From the book Go Well: A Summer Field Guide for Graduates and College Students · Updated October 2026
Emergency numbers, the 30-minute safety setup, and what to do when things go wrong.
Before you leave: the 30-minute safety setup
- Enroll in STEP. The State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is free and sends you safety alerts from U.S. embassies and consulates abroad (U.S. State Department). In an emergency, it also helps the embassy reach you.
- Read the advisory for every country on your route, and, in Mexico, every state (Go Well, Chapter Nine).
- Save the U.S. emergency line for citizens abroad. If you can’t reach the nearest embassy or consulate, call 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. or Canada, or +1-202-501-4444 from another country (U.S. State Department).
- Save the local emergency numbers (table below).
- Make your document backups (Go Well, Chapter Three).
- Share your itinerary with someone at home, and agree on a check-in schedule.
Emergency numbers for this book’s destinations
English-speaking operators may not always be available (U.S. State Department).
| Destination | Emergency number |
|---|---|
| France, Spain, Monaco (and the rest of the EU) | 112 (U.S. State Department, Travel Risk Calculator) |
| Japan | 110 police; 119 fire and ambulance (U.S. State Department) |
| Mexico | 911 (U.S. Embassy in Mexico) |
| Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands | 911 |
| Dominican Republic | 911 (U.S. State Department) |
| Jamaica | 119 police; 110 fire and ambulance (U.S. State Department) |
| Aruba | 911 (U.S. State Department) |
| Curaçao | 911 police and fire; 912 ambulance (GOV.UK) |
When something goes wrong
Lost or stolen passport: report it, then go to the U.S. embassy or consulate. You may be able to get an emergency passport valid for up to a year (Go Well, Chapter Three).
Stolen wallet or cards: lock your cards in your bank’s app right away, call the numbers on the back of your cards, and switch to your backup card (Go Well, Chapter Two).
Stolen phone: lock and erase it remotely, change your key passwords from another device, and report it to the police if your insurance requires a report.
Medical emergency: call the local emergency number, then your travel insurance’s 24-hour line (Go Well, Chapter Three).
Victim of a crime: get to safety and get medical help first. Then contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance (U.S. State Department).
A natural disaster or crisis: follow local authorities’ instructions, check STEP alerts, and contact the embassy or call 1-888-407-4747 (U.S. and Canada) or +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) (U.S. State Department).
Out of money in an emergency: U.S. embassies can provide information about emergency financial assistance for U.S. citizens abroad (Go Well, Chapter Three).
Emergency Card
Cut it out, fold it, and keep it in your wallet, separate from your phone.
Name: ____________________
Blood type: ____________________
Allergies: ____________________
Medications: ____________________
Emergency contact (name and phone): ____________________
Travel insurance policy number: ____________________
Insurance 24-hour line: ____________________
Where I’m staying (address in the local language): ____________________
Nearest U.S. embassy or consulate: ____________________
Local emergency number: ____________________
Checklist: Pre-Trip Safety Setup
A printable version, with the Emergency Card, is in Appendix E.
- ☐ I’ve enrolled in STEP.
- ☐ I’ve read the advisory for every country (and state) on my route.
- ☐ I’ve saved the local emergency numbers and the U.S. emergency line for citizens abroad.
- ☐ I’ve filled out my emergency card.
- ☐ I’ve made document backups, in the cloud and on paper.
- ☐ I’ve shared my itinerary and check-in schedule with someone at home.
- ☐ I’ve turned on two-factor authentication and set up remote phone lock.
- ☐ My group has a buddy system, a meeting point, and location sharing.
- ☐ I have a heat plan and a water-safety plan.
- ☐ I know what I’d do if my passport, cards, or phone were stolen.
Prices and rules change. Everything on this page was checked in October 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you book.
All Go Well pages · leah.travel/ · Get updates every Friday: sign up for the Friday Letter at leah.travel/.