ChurchSafety

Short-term missions have become a popular way for Christians to minister around the world, drawing more than one million people from North America alone each year. There's a lot that can go wrong on a mission trip—from stolen passports to illness and accidents—but you can help your travelers return home safely by following these simple planning tips.

Consider security risks. Investigate whether political unrest, crime, terrorism, or other conditions could affect your safety or security. Visit the U.S. State Department's Web site, www.travel.state.gov, to learn of any warnings issued to U.S. travelers.

Locate Aid Providers. Determine the location of the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Find out what services or advice officials there can provide.

Find Out Health Precautions. Contact the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Health Organization to learn health precautions related to your project destination and to determine which vaccinations are required.

Map Hospital Route. Find the nearest hospital or medical facility. Determine how you would transport an injured participant to the nearest treatment provider.

Expect Medical Emergencies. If possible, recruit someone with medical training to serve as a team member. Illness and injury are serious threats during mission trips, since quality medical care is not always available.

Create a Communication Plan. Designate one contact person at home to relay information from the mission field to families, the congregation, and reporters. If there were an emergency, you would want accurate information, not hearsay, to be communicated.

Obtain Insurance. Many domestic health insurance policies don't cover medical expenses incurred in a foreign country. Make sure your policy covers the cost of hospitalization, medical care in case of illness or accident, emergency air evacuation for medical reasons, and repatriation of the body in case of death.

share this page