In the event of an emergency during study abroad, your first contact should be to the person or office who can provide immediate help and solve the situation at hand at the host institution. After you have been helped, contact other individuals and offices where appropriate. When reporting an emergency, be sure you provide concise information to the responder.

Some guidelines when reporting emergencies are as follows:

  • Follow Emergency Contact Protocols of the host institution
  • Inform/contact university or study abroad program emergency contact person
  • Inform/contact family in the United States
  • Inform/contact King’s College (+1-570-208-5900 – 24 hour hotline)
  • If necessary, seek medical attention
  • If necessary, seek legal advice/intervention
  • Notify local law enforcement authorities
  • nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate
  • Inform/contact CISI Health Insurance company

We advise all parents and students to exercise discretion when classifying an event as an emergency. An emergency is a situation that puts a student’s well-being in immediate harm. Emergencies include, but are not limited to:

  • Physical assault
  • Sexual assault
  • Serious physical or emotional illness
  • Serious accident and/or injury
  • Hospitalization for any reason
  • Terrorist threat or attack
  • Political crisis that poses potential danger or concerns about safety
  • Any legal action
  • Infectious disease outbreak

When calling to report an emergency (students), please provide the following details:

  • Your name
  • Your location
  • Nature of your emergency
  • Where you are calling from (city, phone number)
  • How long will you be at the number
  • Other telephone numbers where you can be reached (include country and city code)
  • How long you will be at the other number(s)
  • Whether your family has been informed of the emergency
  • Program you are attending abroad
  • Whom do you wish to be contacted when calling to report an emergency (Parents/Family Members)

When calling to report an emergency (parents), please provide the following details:

  • Your name
  • Your relationship to the student you are calling about or for
  • The program the student is attending
  • Nature of the emergency
  • Your contact number(s)
  • How long will you be at the number(s)
  • What is the emergency?
  • Where is your son or daughter?
  • When did they contact you?
  • What exactly did your son or daughter say?
  • What contact information did your son or daughter provide?