Preparing for Fieldwork

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TRI is committed to ensuring that its Fellows feel safe and supported while they are engaged in fieldwork overseas. The following are some recommended resources that should be helpful for both seasoned and inexperienced travelers to serve as a quick guide for faculty and students traveling away from campus (domestically or internationally). Additional information can be found on the Yale International Tool-Kit website. Following these steps will enable the School and University to better assist you if needed.

Note: You must be logged into the Yale Library system (or a similar system) to access some of these documents.

Before You Depart

  1. Register your travel using the International SOS Travel Tracker (you will need your netID and must use a Yale networked computer or Yale VPN to do so).
  2. Confirm passport and visa requirements.
  3. Make a travel health appointment.
  4. Share travel details with your advisor, family and friends, and the YSE Dean’s Office*.
  5. Consider signing out one of the YSE Garmin InReach devices if you will be in an area outside of cell coverage – follow this link to make a request.
  6. Reach out to International SOS to request a customized pre-departure briefing specific to your itinerary – complete the travel briefing form and email it to philadelphia@internationalsos.com. ISOS provide assistance and advice, medical and dental referrals, access to clinics and pharmacies, mental health support, and pre-departure planning and coverage applies for Yale-related trips 100 miles+ away from your permanent residence.
  7. Read about your health insurance coverage.
  8. Plan to carry a physical copy of the International SOS card with you and install the TravelTracker app.
  9. Take photographs of important documents (visas and passports).
  10. Find even more pre-departure advice on being an educated traveler here.

During Your Travel

  1. Use the “check in” feature in the Travel Tracker app to record your location.
  2. Continue to update the Travel Tracker app as your plans change.
  3. Share travel plan changes with advisors, the YSE Dean’s Office*, family and friends when they occur to make sure your contacts have the best information to reach you in case of emergency.
  4. Carry your charged cell phone or Garmin InReach device with you at all times.

In the Event of Emergency

Medical Emergency

  1. Where serious injury or illness has occurred, immediately seek medical treatment at the closest medical facility and, if relevant, notify your in-country contacts right away. If you’ve signed one out, your Garmin InReach device can be used to declare an emergency and allow you to text pre-programmed YSE contacts as well as International SOS.
  2. Alert Yale’s travel assistance provider International SOS of your emergency (call collect +1-215-942-8478). They will notify the Yale University Office of International Affairs, Risk Management Office, Yale Health, and, if relevant, YSE.
  3. Notify your personal health care provider of your medical treatment. If you are a member of Yale Health, note that Yale Health will receive notification of the case directly from International SOS and can reach out to you as necessary. In an emergency, always seek treatment first.

Political Unrest / Natural Disaster

  1. Alert Yale’s travel assistance provider International SOS to your emergency (call +1-215-942-8478, you may call collect). They will notify the Yale University Office of International Affairs, Risk Management Office, and, if relevant, YSE.
  2. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or consular service, or the embassy of your country of citizenship.

Emergency Advice for Advisors:

  1. If you receive a direct communication from a student indicating an emergency (medical, political or natural), contact International SOS (1-215-942-8478, you may call collect) to provide all of the information you have. They will notify the Yale University Office of International Affairs and Risk Management. Please alert the YSE Dean’s Office* as well.

*Dean's Office Contact: Annise Dobson annise.dobson@yale.edu and Haille Rae haille.rae@yale.edu; 203-432-5109

Field Site Information

The UK's Royal Geographical Society maintains the World Register of Field Centres, a database of >700 field centres and facilities that welcome international researchers.

Health and Safety Abroad

Cross-Cultural Issues