How to cope with an emergency on holiday
Already this year hurricanes have caused havoc in the Caribbean and the US and, as the hurricane season still has a couple of months left to run, now is as good a time as any to remind holidaymakers how to deal with an emergency overseas or a travel accident. It will probably never happen to you but, if it does, at least you'll be well prepared.
Hurricanes
The hurricane season usually runs from June to November, though August, September and October are the months when the risk is greatest. Of course it's tempting to travel to the Caribbean during this period because prices are so low, but if you do you should check that your hotel is built to withstand a battering and make sure you have adequate travel insurance. Not all policies provide protection against hurricanes, which are considered ‘acts of god’, though some do.
If you are caught up in a hurricane, you should try to contact your tour operator who should make arrangements for alternative accommodation, any necessary medical care and repatriation. If you can't contact your operator or you have booked your holiday independently, contact your airline to see if it can arrange a flight home. If your travel insurance provides cover, contact your insurer for advice as soon as possible and preferably before incurring any expenses.
Accidents
If you are unlucky enough to have an accident on holiday, contact your tour operator's local representative for advice on where to seek medical care. If you don't have a rep, call your travel insurer as soon as possible. It will be able to advise you on where to go for treatment and tell you what your policy covers. Unless you need emergency treatment, you should get the go-ahead from your insurer before you incur any costs. People travelling on their own or with others who are seriously injured can contact the British embassy for assistance. It will send a representative to visit the sick in hospital and contact friends or relatives back home.
If you need to be flown home, your insurance company will make all the arrangements for you. Again, if you have travelled on a package holiday you should speak first to your tour operator's representative in the resort who will liaise with the insurance company on your behalf. If you don't have a tour operator, the embassy will help. Remember that your travel insurance is unlikely to cover you for accidents caused by your own reckless behaviour, such as drinking excessively, ignoring local safety advice or taking part in a hazardous sport unless specifically included in the policy.
Theft
It's important to report any theft to the local police immediately. You will need their report as proof as the loss for any subsequent insurance claim. Remember to cancel all debit and credit cards and travellers cheques and let the British Embassy know if your passport has been stolen so that it can be cancelled. This will prevent anyone trying to steal your identity.
The embassy can issue you with an emergency, single journey travel document to return to the UK. It can also provide you with information on how to safely transfer money from relatives and friends and it can, where necessary, cash a sterling cheque for up to £100 into the local currency — although there is a charge for this service. In a dire emergency the embassy will provide a loan to help you return to the UK. It's always wise to take photocopies of all important documents such as passports, driver's licence and airline tickets with you on holiday and keep these locked in your suitcase or a hotel safe. These will make it easier to get new documents issued. It's also a good idea to leave photocopies with a friend or relative, who can be contacted in an emergency.
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