Pre-Deployment Checklist

▢   Identify emergency contact person, confirm their willingness and ability to support.

▢   Register ACR rescue beacon with NOAA.gov and relevant destination country authorities.

▢   Identify target country emergency contacts, US embassy information, etc.

▢   Register with US State Dept. Travel service.

▢   Ensure needed immunizations are up to date

▢   Determine travel insurance needs (kidnap, death/disability, extract, etc.)

▢   Get prescriptions for any recommended emergency medicines

  • Malarone (anti-malaria)
  • EpiPen (high risk allergies)
  • Ciprofloxacin (stomach anti-biotic)

▢   Ensure passport and visa requirements are met

▢   Get foreign driving permit (even if not planning on driving)

▢   Ensure currency, credit cards, and ATM needs are covered

  • due to counterfeiting abroad, many in-country currency exchanges will only accept brand new US $100 bills or new $20 bills. Best to bring a mix.
  • some countries ATM networks will not connect with US banks (or ATMs don't exist)
  • some foreign credit card machines require chip AND PIN not often provided by US cards
  • ideally bring some foreign currency with you when departing US

▢   Establish communications plan

  • determine if phone and carrier work in destination country, may need to "unlock" by calling carrier before
  • bring cheap international GSM phone, acquire SIM in-country
  • bring sat phone or communications device https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/
  • establish a minimum check-in schedule with your emergency contact (daily, when moving locations, etc.). Make clear escalation steps and timeframes for loss of contact.

▢   Print key phrases, learn basics of language and culture

▢   Print physical copies of relevant maps

▢   If traveling with smartphone, download offline maps and dictionaries

▢   Make three photo copies of documents and information, provide to emergency contact person, carry with you, leave at home/office in safe place:

  • passport
  • ID
  • prescriptions
  • immunizations
  • insurance
  • proof-of-life questions and answers
  • destination country and US embassy contact information
  • hotel and/or in-country points of contact
  • instructions for contacting
  • travel dates and expected contact schedule
  • maps

▢   If carrying smartphone, scan copies of the documents above and store on phone, ideally encrypted

Documents

Checklist.pdf
Checklist.pdf