Emergencies

Planning for the Unexpected

If you are experiencing an emergency NOW: 

1. Seek medical treatment at the closest medical facility. If medical service is not available, contact International SOS for assistance (call collect)  at +1-215-942-8478.
2. Contact International SOS (+1-215-942-8478) to alert them to your emergency. International SOS will assist, monitor and coordinate your situation until resolved or you are no longer in danger.
3. Call Yale Security 24/7 at +1-203-785-5555 who will notify the Yale University Office of International Affairs and, if necessary, your program.
4. For medical emergencies, notify your Primary Care Physician.
5. Contact the nearest U.S. Consular service or Embassy or the embassy of your country of citizenship. Please note that if you are unable to make multiple telephone calls, ask International SOS to make the additional calls for you.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

1. Interntaional SOS: +1-215-942-8478 (call collect) or use the in-country toll-free numbers listed on this ID card.
2. Yale 24-hour Security Office: +1-203-785-5555

In addition to planning for classroom and course needs, it is essential to plan as much as possible for student needs outside of the classroom. The following list is examples of situations that may arise outside the classroom:

• A student becomes ill and needs to visit a doctor.
• A student is involved in an accident and needs to go to a hospital.
• A student suffers emotional stress and needs to talk to a psychological counselor.
• A natural disaster occurs in the host city or country.
• A terrorist attack occurs in the host city or country.
• A student's passport is lost or stolen.
• A local political situation destabilizes the host city or country.

Neither Yale nor the instructors representing Yale can be expected to ensure with absolute certainty that no physical or emotional harm will come to a student. However, we must have a plan and resources in place that allow the instructor(s) or on-site coordinator to deal effectively with adverse situations that present themselves. Therefore, a significant step in program planning should include:

1. Preparing a Resource Packet of Information Consisting of:

Yale’s Travel Assistance and out-of-country medical coverage. Become familiar with the material on the website of the Office of the Controller (Risk Management): https://ogc.yale.edu/erm/ISOS
Make sure you are familiar with International SOS resources should you need in-country support. Consult study abroad staff with any questions you have about International SOS. All program participants (i.e. students, instructors, and assistants) are covered under this plan.

2. Establishing an Emergency Action Plan

Read over the Yale Study Abroad Emergency Action Plan in Appendix A of the Instructor Handbook. Confirm with the Study Abroad Director that you understand it and that you and the Study Abroad Office have the same understanding of procedures should an event occur.

3. Reviewing the Incident Report Form

If an incident occurs while abroad, the instructor must complete the Incident Report Form and email it to Kelly McLaughlin (kelly.mclaughlin@yale.edu), Study Abroad Director. Please review this form in advance so that you know what types of incidents must be reported and what information will be required. The Incident Report Form, which includes detailed instructions, is available here.