How to stay healthy and safe during your study abroad experience

What to Do in Case of an Emergency Abroad

Call your local program coordinator, program staff, or emergency contact first. You should keep their number(s) with you at all times.

If you have an emergency during OIE office hours (M-F 8:30am – 4:30 pm), please call the OIE office at (608) 363-2269.

For after-hours emergencies, please call Campus Security at (608) 363-2355.

Before you go abroad, read the State Department’s advice on What to Do in Case of Emergency Abroad and enroll your trip with them. That way, the U.S. government will be able to contact and help you in case of an emergency at home or abroad.

Memorize the local contact numbers for police, fire, and medical emergencies 

Travel Health Resources

• Health and Safety Tips – from the OIE (pdf)
• Studying Abroad? Get Your Required Checkup! - travel health tips from the Beloit College Health Center
• iNext International Travel Insurance - Unless you are studying abroad on a program that provides an international health insurance plan with medical evacuation and repatriation, you will be enrolled in an iNext Comprehensive plan with a rider for emergency evacuation in case of political threat or natural disaster. The charges will be included in your Beloit College bill.
• Finding a doctor or hospital abroad - from the U.S. Department of State
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• World Health Organization (WHO) - info on disease outbreaks
• National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) - country specific info
• Overeaters Anonymous
• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa
• Alcoholics Anonymous

How to Be a Responsible Traveler

Do your research before going abroad - The U.S. Department of State maintains a comprehensive International Travel website for each country. There you can find information on crime, safety, medical facilities, entry/exit requirements, and much more, including safety bulletins. 

Track safety bulletins (also called travel warnings) – These warnings are issued when events or threats in a city, country, or region lead the U.S. Department of State to warn traveling U.S. citizens about possible safety or security concerns. You and your parents should monitor the travel warnings issued by the Department of State for your country and/or region both prior to departure and while you are abroad. Check out the current Travel Warnings and Alerts now.

Register your travel plans online with the U.S. Department of State – The free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) allows you to record information about your upcoming trip abroad that the U.S. Department of State can use to assist you in case of an emergency. You can also get routine information from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to your study abroad site.

NOTE: The OIE staff carefully monitors current events in every study abroad location. If there is any concern about the safety of our students, the OIE will work closely with parents, students, and contacts abroad to resolve any problems.

Travel Safety Resources

• Students Abroad - Ready to buckle up, put on your headphones, peruse your in-flight magazine, and begin your travel adventure? Not so fast! Check out this site first! Don’t miss the section on Smart Travel.
• Safety and Security for U.S. Students Traveling Abroad – FBI Brochure (pdf)
• Study Abroad Student Handbook – Center for Global Education
• Know Before You Go  - Customs information from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. Make sure you know what you can legally bring back to the U.S. and how to declare it before shelling out a lot of money on souvenirs and gifts from abroad.
• Association for Safe International Road Travel - ASIRT is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes global road safety through education, advocacy and targeted road safety projects in low and middle income countries.