Intro:
Most business travelers arrive at their destinations, complete the trip’s purpose, and return home without a hitch.
Everyday things that go wrong during business trips include:
- Flight delays
- Failing to prepare
- Forgetting to pack essentials
- Overbooked hotels
- Lost luggage
Business travelers need help with the security of their trips. In 1995, the LA Times found that professionals worried about personal assaults against them on the road and theft.
Entering 2023, those two worries still apply to most corporate travelers.
Therefore, corporate travel managers and travelers must make trip risk assessments before taking off. Top business cities like San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles saw spikes in smash and grabs. Thus, traveler concerns about assault remain valid.
The good news is that the chances that business travelers will experience crime on the road remain low. However, other emergencies can occur, including health-related ones.
We compiled what steps business travelers should take in an emergency.
Call 911
In life-threatening situations, the first step is to call 911. Once you connect with a representative, answer their questions and describe the situation.
The emergency line representatives have the resources to connect you with the appropriate authorities. Therefore, they need to understand your situation, the urgency, and the location.
Plus, representatives log the information and use it to determine if it’s an ongoing situation or a one-off. For example, you might find yourself in the middle of a vehicle collision pile-up.
Representatives can alert the local authorities that they need to send several officers to respond instead of a few.
Call the Local Authorities
In the middle of an emergency situation, keep a stable head on your shoulders. Sometimes it’s best to call the local authorities instead of 911.
However, the local authorities and 911 understand that out-of-towners require more guidance than locals and residents.
The point of connecting with local authorities or 911 is obtaining help and documenting the incident.
For example, road warrior sales professionals increase their odds of becoming involved in vehicle collisions since they drive so often. Professionals involved in car accidents must call and wait for highway patrol, the sheriff, or local police to arrive on the scene.
The local authorities document the incident and provide documentation that drivers must file with their insurance companies. Professionals who rent cars also need the paperwork since the agency will require it for their files.
Call Your Office Corporate Travel Manager
Next, contact your company’s corporate travel manager or emergency representative. For insurance purposes, the company needs to become aware of the situation.
Companies have several responsibilities to their employees, even when traveling. Thus, make a report of the incident so that they can provide you with additional guidance.
For example, the weather can take a turn for the worst and potentially strand you at the destination. Company decision-makers will decide what to do next to keep traveling employees safe.
Company representatives might pull staff from the road or have them stay longer until the weather improves.
Document the Incident
In addition to obtaining official incident documentation from local authorities, document the incident from your perspective.
Then, attach your notes to official documents received from the local authorities. The goal is to provide a well-rounded view of what occurred for your company’s records, especially if you need medical attention.
Professionals who become ill after eating at a particular eatery can warn their companies. Then, corporate travel managers can advise other team members against eating at the same place.
Gather Evidence
After documenting the incident, gather pertinent evidence. Use your smartphone to take pictures of the scene.
Then, add the pictures to your documents.
Follow Up
Sometimes professionals need to follow up with representatives who help them. For example, if the airline lost your luggage, follow up with them if it does not appear within the window they provided.
You should follow up with your company for additional guidance in other emergencies.
Learn from the Incident
Once the initial chaos of the emergency dies down, take a few moments to learn from it.
Ideally, the incident will only involve mild food poisoning. However, travelers who experience personal assaults or something similar should explore how the situation occurred.
Professionals advise travelers to return to their hotels before the sun sets. Even walking around their destinations during the daytime isn’t always recommended.
Conclusion
Business travelers can take several steps to protect themselves on the road. If emergencies occur, call 911 first. Then, contact the local authorities and your company’s emergency representative. Next, document the incident, follow up and try to learn from the situation.
