The expert named the procedure for dealing with emergencies during the trip

Loss of documents, injury or illness abroad are unpleasant situations, but not hopeless. It is important to know in advance how to act in order to minimize stress and solve the problem faster. Elena Kosheleva, Director of Sberbank Insurance projects, told Izvestia on May 25 what steps would help to cope with force majeure during the trip.

"The first reaction to an unpleasant situation is stress, especially if you are in an unfamiliar country. Try to stay calm and assess what is happening soberly. For example, if you lose your documents, it is important to determine immediately whether only your passport and visa are lost, or whether bank cards, tickets, and other important items are lost with them. This will help to establish the right course of action," she said.

The principle of reciprocity: tour operators will have a new insurance tool

Financial risk management of companies is being transformed

Kosheleva also explained that first of all you need to contact the nearest police station and get a certificate of the incident — it will be needed when restoring documents. Then you need to contact the Russian consulate or embassy.: they will tell you how to apply for a temporary identity card to return home.

"If you have insurance for tourists, you can contact the hotline: experts will help you find the right contacts and explain the procedure. Then it will be possible to reimburse the costs of registration and, in some cases, transportation to the consulate," the expert reassured.

If bank cards are missing along with the documents or they were stolen separately, then they must be immediately blocked through the mobile application or by calling the bank — most of them work around the clock. In such situations, a spare card is useful, stored separately from the main one, so as not to run out of money during the trip.

In case of severe pain, suspected fractures or infectious diseases, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. If you have a travel insurance policy, you should contact an insurance company: it will send you to a trusted clinic, cover the cost of treatment and help with an interpreter, if necessary. Having insurance is especially important because the cost of medical care abroad can be high, especially in private medical institutions.

"Flight delays, cancellation of hotel reservations, loss of luggage — all this can also happen. In such situations, carefully read the booking rules and terms of the insurance policy. Many insurance policies cover the cost of food, accommodation and the purchase of necessary items for long delays and lost luggage," explained Kosheleva.

To speed up the compensation process, she recommends saving all receipts and certificates: they will be useful for contacting the insurance company.

The specialist also explained that it is important to make copies of all documents before the trip: passport, visas, tickets and insurance policy. You need to store copies separately from the originals — in a suitcase, carry-on luggage, or even in cloud storage. This will help you recover your documents faster and verify your identity if necessary.

Earlier, on May 14, Vladimir Neronov, MD, an infectious disease specialist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia about the importance of vaccinations when planning a vacation abroad. He warned that there are diseases specific to specific regions where entry may be prohibited without a vaccination certificate.