Handling Emergencies

Anything can happen when traveling, for better or worse, though the worse sticks out a little more sometimes. Many mishaps can be avoided with preparation, but there are some things you just can’t help. The key to dealing with misfortune is to not panic, of course, but here are some more detailed suggestions for dealing with specific events.

I Forgot Something!

This is clearly not the end of the world. If you forgot an article of clothing or toiletries, those things are easily replaceable. Business papers and the like can be trickier, but you can have someone back home fax them to you; most cities have copy centers with public access fax machines, even in rural areas.

If you forgot something absolutely vital and irreplaceable, you may be able to have it shipped to you, or you may be able to go back. Odds are that neither of those options will be feasible, so you’ll have to think on your feet. Again, the most important thing is not to panic. Reason will prevail.

I Missed My Flight!

Getting upset isn’t going to help. Reschedule for the next flight (or get on the next train). That’s all you can do. Hopefully you can have the cost credited to your original ticket. Push for this if you have to.

If you’re driving and your car breaks down, you can get a rental car without too much fuss. It helps if you’re a member of AAA, because then you can get your car towed to a shop and have it worked on while you’re on your trip.

I’m Having a Medical Emergency!

You filled out your emergency contact card, right? And it’s in your billfold or purse, right? As long as you or someone else can call 911, things will take care of themselves. If you didn’t prepare an emergency card, chances are that the paramedics or someone at the hospital will find someone to contact for you, probably via your insurance records or perhaps numbers stored on your cell phone.

I’ve Been Arrested!

This is possibly the worst thing that can happen to you while on business. It doesn’t mean instant career death, since the police rarely contact your employer, but it does come with a host of complications. Being in a strange city means you don’t know anyone who will post bail for you, which means an overnight stay in jail unless you have an attorney who can figure something out for you. After your first appearance in the morning, you’ll be given a court date for your arraignment. Be aware that while you are entitled to a phone call, most jails don’t allow calls to cellular phones.

Other Emergencies

There are far too many possibilities for one guide to cover, but the basics hold true: As long as you have prepared properly and can get in touch with someone, there’s nothing that you can’t handle to some degree of success. We can’t stress enough how important it is to remain calm and use the tools at your disposal. Don’t let fear of things you can’t control stop you from having a productive trip.