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Emergency Response

Whether an emergency is individual or general, ISEP's primary function is to keep all parties informed and maintain good communication. Coordinators who learn of an emergency abroad from a parent or student should report it promptly to ISEP.

Contacting ISEP

Medical Emergency

If an ISEP participant is involved in a serious accident or illness, the most important thing is to get immediate medical assistance.

To confirm insurance coverage, contact ISEP's insurance provider, IEES. If the emergency occurs outside of the United States, you may also contact MEDEX, which offers 24-hour worldwide medical assistance. MEDEX can refer to doctors or hospitals outside the United States, coordinate payment with the provider, and coordinate medical evacuations and repatriations.

IEES
1.866.433.7462 or 1.607.272.2707

MEDEX Reference for ISEP Coordinators PDF

Let ISEP know by telephoning the regular office number at 1.202.667.8027. If you call outside normal office hours, you will be asked to call an answering service. The answering service will contact a designated staff member, who will return your phone call.

ISEP will call the student's home and/or host coordinator. We will ask the home coordinator to get in touch with the participant's family if they do not already know, or we will contact the student's family directly if we think it is appropriate. If the emergency involves hospitalization, surgery or other major medical expenses, ISEP will also contact IEES. ISEP will continue to stay in touch with all parties concerned as needed.

Non-Medical Emergencies

Preparation for non-medical emergencies is important.
Include information about your institution's emergency plan in the orientation you give to students when they arrive.

Natural Disaster
If a natural disaster requires the evacuation of students, please make sure ISEP participants know what to do and where to go. As soon as possible, please inform ISEP Central of the measures you have taken and let us know where the students are. ISEP Central will monitor the situation and keep home coordinators informed. They, in turn, will contact families as appropriate.

Civil Disorder or Unrest, or a Campus Strike
In the event of civil disorder or unrest or a campus strike, it is very important that you give students accurate information and advise them about what they should do and not do. As soon as possible, please inform ISEP Central of the situation, and let us know how it may affect students. If the situation is serious, please let us know what measures have been taken to protect students.

ISEP Central will inform home coordinators, who will inform participants' families. ISEP will monitor the situation and try to determine if and when normal conditions will be restored or whether the situation requires that a program be suspended or cancelled.

Major Civil or International Unrest
In the event of major civil or international unrest Coordinators and participants should monitor the U.S. Department of State Web site (www.travel.state.gov). U.S. students should stay in touch with the American embassy or nearest consulate in their host country. International students should contact the embassies or consulates of their home countries.

Placement fees will be refunded in the case of ISEP applicants called to active-duty military service.