Local emergency services like the police, the fire department, or EMS will often be the first resources available in an emergency, and you should contact them as appropriate. Make sure you know how to contact them while you are abroad, as 911 is not the correct number to call in many countries. Always follow all instructions given to you by emergency services.

Your program directors and staff at your host university are important resources in an emergency. You will want to contact them as soon as you can, as they live locally and can respond to an emergency quickly.  You should always follow any instructions they give you.

UVM contracts with International SOS to provide emergency assistance for all registered UVM students abroad. In order to utilize any of the medical, security or travel services listed under Program Benefits, contact a 24-Hour Assistance Center from anywhere in the world by calling directly, calling collect, or by calling the toll-free number. These numbers can be found on your International SOS card or from the International SOS website. While we have designated the Philadelphia center in the United States as our primary contact (+1 215 942 8226), any of the 24-Hour Assistance Centers will assist you:

If calling from the US, Mexico, Central or South America:

• Philadelphia, PA
  • 24 hours:   1-215-942-8226 (call collect when available)
  • Within U.S.A. call:  1-800-523-6586
  • From Canada  1-800-441-4767

If calling from Europe, Russia/CIS, Africa, or the Middle East:

• London, England
  • 24 hours:   +44 20 8762-8008 (call collect when available)

If calling from Asia, Australia or the Pacific Rim:

• Singapore
  • 24 hours:  +65 6338-7800 (call collect when available)

Additional Alarm Center and Clinic contact information can be found at the SOS website at:
https://www.internationalsos.com/locations

To ensure a prompt response when calling, you should be prepared to provide the following:

• Your name, birthday, location, age, sex, and nationality
• The program with which you are associated (i.e., Study Abroad Program in___________)
• Your International SOS membership number, found on the back of your International SOS card
• The telephone number from which you are calling (in case you are disconnected)
• Your relationship to the member (if the person is not you)
• Name, location, and telephone number of the hospital or clinic (when applicable)
• Name, location, and telephone number for the treating doctor, and where the doctor can be reached (when applicable)

Services that International SOS can provide you include:

• Basic insurance coverage for illnesses and accidents abroad
• Emergency evacuation
• Medically-supervised repatriation
• Companion ticket
• Additional travel and accommodation arrangements after medical evacuation
• Repatriation of mortal remains
• Return home of minor children
• Medical monitoring
• Inpatient admission and identification of receiving physician
• Emergency and routine medical advice
• Pre-trip information on travel health issues
• Medical and dental referrals
• Outpatient referrals
• Outpatient case management
• Claims assistance
• Outpatient medical expense guarantee and payment (extra fees will apply)
• Inpatient medical expense guarantee, cost review and payment (extra fees will apply)
• Travel Services
• Legal referrals
• Emergency message transmission
• Translations and interpreters (extra fees will apply)
• Lost document advice
• Ground transportation and accommodations for accompanying family members (extra fees will apply)
• Emergency personal cash advances (extra fees will apply)
• International SOS Clinics
• Security Services
• Security evacuation assistance
• Online travel security information
• Access to security crisis center

Please note: International SOS coverage is only available to students starting two days prior to their program start date, and ending two days after their program end date. Students who travel for personal reasons before or after their term abroad beyond these dates are not covered by International SOS during that time period of personal travel.

In an emergency, you should priritize contacting the resources that can help you the quickest: local emergency services and your program or host university. However, you should contact UVM and your family and friends when it is safe to do so. In order to get in touch with UVM in case of an emergency abroad, you can call Police Services at +1 802 656 3473.