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Travelers Abroad Emergency Contact Information Database: Confirmation of Registration Memo

Dear MSU Traveler:

My name is Julie Friend and I am the Travel Security Analyst for the Office of Study Abroad and the Center for International Programs. One of my primary responsibilities is to serve as first responder for any staff, faculty, or student emergency abroad.

I have recently received registration of your upcoming international travel through the Travelers Abroad Emergency Contact Information Database. While I hope that your time abroad will be trouble-free, if you need assistance, please do not hesitate to call the 24/7 International Emergency Assistance line at 517-353-3784. An MSU police cadet will take your call, note your needs, and contact me (or another appropriate MSU official) who will then return your call.

If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to register your travel with the US State Department registry. Situations like the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami and the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict demonstrate the importance of State Department registry. Also, as a result of your registration, you will be able to receive emergency information from the relevant Embassy or Consulate via e-mail.

Also, be reminded that the MSU Travel Clinic provides faculty, staff and graduate students with Travel Health Services. For information on required and recommended vaccinations for your area, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For travel to South Africa, please note the Travel Health Advisory from Dr. Beth Alexander, University Physician, regarding XDR-TB.

Don't forget to take your MEDEX card with you. Most of our emergencies abroad are a result of illness or injury. Go to the MSU Manual of Business Procedures for more information on coverage. Note that the MSU's MEDEX ID is 22540 and the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Number is 1-410-453-6330. If you need a MEDEX card, they are available from the Office of Risk Management (113 Olds Hall), the Travel Office (370 Admin) or my office in the Int'l Center (Room 4, basement).

Remember that MEDEX coverage is limited to the time you are traveling on university business. If you choose to tack on personal travel, either before or after your employment-related travel, I strongly suggest you purchase international health insurance coverage for those particular dates. Most domestic health care policies provide for reimbursement only of health care costs incurred overseas. While routine medical care is unlikely to be costly abroad, the cost of emergency treatment, hospitalization, evacuation, or repatriation can range from $1,000-$50,000. Numerous insurance organizations provide such coverage, but the three companies with which I have experience are:

• Highway to Health (HTH)
• Medex
• SOS International

Keep in mind that if you are traveling with controlled equipment or materials (e.g. global positioning systems, encrypted software, or select agents), you may be in violation of federal law. Review MSU's Office of Export Controls & Trade Sanctions (and click on Export Controls) or contact their office at 432-4500 to discuss federal restrictions or limitations related to your destination.

You should also read the State Department Consular Information Sheet for your destination. I also recommend the Country Background notes. For comparative information, you may wish to consult the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office Consular Reports or the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.

Additional MSU Resources regarding international travel can be found at the ISP website. I highly recommend the "Know Before You Go" document as well as the Global Access Database, where you can connect to a variety of country-specific resources.

Should you have any questions about health, safety, or security abroad, please do not hesitate to contact me.