Do you have a family member abroad and don't know the steps to take in case of an emergency?
Today we would like to guide you on the steps to follow in case of an emergency when moving abroad. It is very important to emphasize that the first thing you should do when you are in another country is to register in the Consular Registry. Every country has the obligation to assist its citizens abroad in case of an emergency. And it is for this and many other reasons that the Consulate exists. But it is also important to emphasize that it is the duty of every citizen to inform the corresponding consulate about their arrival in the foreign country.
There are citizens who do not take this step very seriously when moving abroad. But at the time of an emergency, it is extremely important to know where they live, an emergency contact in their home country and abroad, and personal characteristics of the citizen. In case something happens to a citizen who is not in his or her home country, it is the consulate staff who have the obligation to identify the person and inform the family in his or her home country of any incident that occurred.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Consulates experienced an unusually large increase in citizens who had never registered with the Consulate and who demanded immediate registration in case of an emergency. Which, for many, should not have been the case, since many of them had already been living abroad for more than a year.
Now we are clear about the importance of registering at the corresponding consulate. Let's now go into the steps to follow if a family member disappears or something happens to them during their stay abroad.
Only after more than 24 hours have passed without contact with the family member is it recommended to write an email to the corresponding consulate. It must be a detailed email indicating the following: when the missing person was last seen, who is known, full name, date of birth, detailed description of the citizen (eye color, hair, weight, height, and if possible a recent photo), mailing address, telephone number, and if he or she has any illness or depression.
Call the consular emergency telephone number and inform the consulate about the disappearance of your family member and the email that has been sent.
Try to communicate with friends, if you know any, or those who can give some clue about what happened, if that is the case.
Wait to hear from the Consulate, or inform the Consulate as soon as possible if the relative has been found or if you hear from a friend.
The consulate will call the local police and make the report. It will send the report number to the family. The consulate will work with local authorities to contact nearby hospitals and jails.
It is convenient to emphasize that many times when the missing citizen has been registered in the Consular Register. All the above is much easier for all involved, and that is why it is important to always register with the corresponding Consulate.
The idea of articles such as these is that citizens are aware of how to act and the support that the Consulate can provide to its citizens in scenarios such as these. Remember to be informed about the documentation or requirements that each Consulate requires in order to carry out this procedure, and be attentive to the information provided on the web page of the corresponding Consulate.