Emergency Healthcare Abroad: What to Do

A short, practical navigation guide for the scenario you hope never to need.

Bottom line up front: Know your destination's emergency number and your evacuation insurance details before you travel — not something to figure out during an actual emergency.

Immediate steps in a genuine emergency

1

Call the local emergency number

In Colombia, that's 123, connecting to police, fire, and medical response.

2

Contact your treating facility if the emergency relates to your procedure

They can coordinate escalation if you're within their care.

3

Contact your evacuation insurance provider if a higher level of care is needed

They coordinate transport to appropriate facilities.

4

Notify your emergency contact at home

Part of the communication plan you should have set up before traveling.

Why preparation matters more here than almost anywhere else

An emergency is the worst possible time to be searching for phone numbers or insurance details — assemble this information into your recovery access pack before you travel via colombiamedical.co's broader planning resources.

The Takeaway

Have your emergency numbers and evacuation insurance details saved and accessible before you travel — this is not information to look up during an actual emergency.