Safety & Emergency Planning

Rock Creek Bldg. 3, Rm. 223 | 503-614-7152 | FAX: 503-614-7170 | studyabroad@pcc.edu

Study Abroad Safety Handbook

To address the current worldwide concern for safety, and the need for informed study abroad program participants, the Safety Abroad First-Education Travel Information (SAFETI) Clearinghouse of the University of Southern California's Center for Global Education in the Rossier School of Education makes Study Abroad Safety Handbook available for students studying abroad. The document is made possible through support from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) of the U.S. Department of Education.

Trip Safety & Preparation

Health Insurance Providers for Study Abroad

International health insurance policies must be carried by all students studying abroad. The programs in France and Italy include insurance coverage. For the programs in Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica and Japan, travel insurance must be purchased. The following are a few providers for students going abroad.

Health Resources

  • U.S. Department of State: Travel and Living Abroad-Official information on traveling and living abroad. Includes links to the following: emergencies and warnings, passports, visas, living abroad, and other helpful sites.
  • CDC: National Center for Infectious Diseases - Travelers' Health-Contains health information related to various destinations, outbreaks, diseases, and necessary vaccinations.
  • International SOS-This web site contains information about SOS services and SOS capabilities in the many countries where they have offices, alarm centers and clinics. You can find the contact details for any location on the respective Country Pages or at the Worldwide Network section.

Emergency Planning

In case of an emergency during your study abroad program please call the 24-hour PCC Public Safety 1+503-977-4444. The officer will then notify the appropriate PCC officials who can assist in your emergency. The information you give may also be shared with the U.S. emergency contact you designate with the Office of International Education.

Please note this section is courtesy of a Title VI Dept. of Education grant awarded to a California institution.

Most students returning from study abroad say that it was one of the most valuable parts of their college or university experience. While most students experience a safe and healthy time abroad, some are forced to deal with minor crises like pick-pockets, petty theft, or a minor illness or injury (similar to those faced by students in the U.S.). In an unfamiliar environment with communication and cultural barriers, a minor crisis may be more difficult to handle. In addition, similar to the realities on a U.S. campus, there may be a few students who encounter a major emergency while abroad, such as a serious illness or injury, traffic accident, natural disaster, or violent crime. Many study abroad programs have developed comprehensive support strategies. The first place to start getting information about your program's support strategies is in your study abroad advisor's office in the U.S. and your program director's office abroad. We have also provided the following resources to assist you in being prepared before going and after arriving abroad:

Emergency Card

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Emergency Card

The Emergency Card is a condensed resource, which includes your most important contact numbers and personal information. We recommend that you print out the Card. Then, fill in all the requested names, addresses, phone numbers and personal information. Make several copies of your completed card. Make sure to leave a copy of it with each of your U.S. emergency contacts, with your abroad emergency contacts, and keep a copy with you at all times.

Personal Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

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Action Plan

Whether studying or working abroad, we recommend you print out and fill in the emergency planning form we provide. This form should help you create a Personal Emergency Action Plan (EAP). It is different from the Emergency Card above. Your EAP is equivalent to a strategy-planning device in case of an emergency, whereas the Emergency Card is a wallet-sized summary of your personal information and emergency contacts.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Steps

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Action Plan Steps

We suggest you print out the Emergency Action Plan Steps and keep a copy with you at all times. We have included a list of suggested documents and items to help you respond more effectively during an emergency.

 

Emergency Procedures

In Case of Emergency

  1. Follow the procedures provided by the on-site staff for your specific program location.
  2. If you are unable to contact the on-site director or other local program staff, contact the other offices whose numbers are listed on the emergency contact cards that were provided for your reference by PCC. Be sure to carry your emergency contact card with you at all times.
  3. When contacting your program staff, or the emergency contact numbers, you must provide the following information:
    • your full name
    • the nature of the emergency
    • a number where you can be contacted
    • how long you will remain at that location (provide the city and country information)
    Please note: Due to time differences between your location and programs offices in the U.S. it may require several hours before someone is able to respond to you. We make every attempt to respond as quickly as possible. Your first contact should always be your on-site staff.
  4. If you are unable to contact the on-site staff or other program offices personally, attempt to have someone contact your on-site program personnel or PCC Office of International Education.

Emergency Evacuation: Natural, Political, or Other Crisis Situations

  1. Follow the procedures provided by the on-site staff for your specific program location.
  2. If you are unable to contact the on-site program staff, contact the PCC Office of International Education or the other offices whose numbers are listed on the emergency contact cards that are provided for your use by the local program staff and PCC.
  3. If communication lines are down, and the situation allows, go to the local program site or your program campus. Instructions should be posted at the office regarding where and how to contact program staff. If the program staff is unable to post instructions, please leave a message at the program office with your name and contact information indicating that you have been to the office and need to be contacted. On-site program staff will attempt to contact you as soon as possible once they are able to re-open the office. If you are unable to speak to your local program staff, or PCC contact numbers, attempt to contact the closest U.S. Consulate or Embassy office for further instructions. Local radio and television stations may also broadcast emergency information.
  4. Stay calm, and stay with other program students, your host family, or host campus representatives if possible. It is important that you attempt to contact PCC staff, however, it is more important that you remain in a safe environment and follow the instructions provided by the local government authorities.

Instructions for Families (parents or legal guardians):

Emergency contact information was provided to each student prior to departure for the program abroad.

Students are asked to share this information with their families. PCC is aware of your need to keep in contact with your family members, especially in emergency situations. If you need to contact your family member while they are abroad due to a family emergency you may use the contact information which was provided by PCC. Please limit the use of the contact numbers to emergency situations. PCC offices are open from 8am. to 5pm (PST) Monday to Friday. Phone (503) 614-7150 to reach PCC International Programs. After hours the contact number is in the Public Safety on the PCC campus (503) 977-4444. The staff at the Public Safety office will make every attempt to contact the appropriate PCC staff member. It is essential that you provide detailed information to assist us in responding to your call. If you contact public safety be sure to identify yourself as a family member of a student on a PCC sponsored study abroad program.

If the situation does not require immediate attention, please leave a voice mail message (after hours) at (503) 614-7150. Calls on weekends and holidays will be returned within 24 hours. Calls on evenings during the week will be returned the following morning. Please also note that time differences abroad may create difficulties in contacting student participants.

The Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevents staff members from providing certain information to persons other than the student participants. It is often necessary for us to balance your needs as a family with the needs of the students to be treated as adults and to follow the laws of the U.S. Our goal is to help to provide open lines of communication between you and your family members. Please be assured that we will do as much as possible to help you in any emergency situation.

Emergency Contacts

If you are calling from the U.S. you will need to dial ‘011’ before the phone number.

  • AIFS Florence, Italy- 39-340-836-5089 (9 hrs ahead of PST)
  • AIFS London, England- 44-20-7603-1747 (8 hrs ahead of PST)
  • UPF Barcelona, Spain- 34-93-54-22411 (9 hrs ahead of PST)
  • Instituto Cultural Oaxaca- Oaxaca, Mexico- 52-951-515-34-04 (2 hrs ahead of PST)
  • Guanajuato, Mexico-52-473-731-3056 (2 hrs ahead of PST)
  • Alajuela, Costa Rica- ICLC Language School 506-2458-8485/ Cabo Blanco- 506-2645-5890/ La Selva- 506-2524-0607/ Ecolodge San Luis- 506-2645-8049 (1 hr ahead of PST)
  • U.S. Embassies Abroad
  • Citizen's Emergency Center