Immediate Actions

1. Attend to the immediate needs of the individual(s) involved.


2. Remove yourself and others from danger, if possible.


3. Contact (as appropriate) local medical officials, law enforcement, your local program contact and/or the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

4. Contact the WashU Police Department at (314) 935-5555.

Do this as soon as feasible so that the Emergency Management team can coordinate support for you.

The WashU Police dispatcher will likely ask for the following information:

  • Your name
  • Identity of individual(s) involved – if applicable
  • Brief description of the accident, illness or emergency
  • Your location – address, city, country
  • Location of the accident or emergency; proximity to WashU students (if not directly affected)
  • Phone number where you can be reached
  • Verify calls have been placed to emergency response services and to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, if appropriate
  • Information that has been released to the media

If the emergency is a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or act of war, you may be asked for the following information:

  • What is the nature of the emergency?
  • What is the intensity of the emergency?
  • Are there military or emergency personnel at the site of the emergency?
  • What is the advice of the nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate?
  • What impact has the emergency had on availability of food, water and medical supplies?

Definition of an emergency abroad:

  1. A death or serious injury/illness that may require hospitalization of a student or employee; or one that makes it impossible for the student or employee to continue with the program.
  2. An emergency may also be (but is not limited to) a situation involving a criminal act against one or more program participants; an act or threat of terrorism that poses a threat to the security of the program participants; a natural disaster; an act of war; or any event that causes or threatens harm to one or more program participants.

For non-emergency incidents abroad: