Health & Safety

Travelers are not alone and have the benefit of considerable assistance twenty-four hours a day.

There are a number of resources and networks in place through Northeastern University that provide support and assistance when an individual is facing a challenge while traveling, regardless of how large or small the situation may be.

Northeastern Travelers must be aware of local emergency numbers and contact information of their nearest embassy or consulate in the destination country or region.  Travelers should contact the local emergency services of the destination country when presented with a life threatening emergency.  The following Northeastern resources are able to help or direct you to the appropriate assistance:

  • Northeastern Travel Support Network’s 24/7 international assistance hotline: +1.857.214.5332. Please call the hotline while traveling if you need immediate assistance to be connected with our medical and security assistance partners.
  • Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD) 24/7 Dispatch Line: Emergency Number +1.617.373.3333 or Non-Emergency +1.617.373.2121.
  • find@Northeastern: 24/7 Mental Health Support, From the US: +1.877.233.9477 and Internationally: +1.781.457.7777
  • WeCare: Office number during Boston Campus business hours +1.617.373.4384 or via email wecare@neu.edu. If you would like to contact a member of the We Care team directly, please check out the Our Team page for contact information.
  • University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS): Office number during Boston Campus business hours +1.617.373.2772 or via uhcs@northeastern.edu.
  • Office of University Equity and Compliance (OUEC): Office number during Boston Campus business hours +1.617.373.4644.  For additional reporting options, visit the OUEC website.
  • Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI): Office numbers during Boston Campus business hours +1.617.373.2133, fax +1.617.373.4146 and email diversity@neu.edu.

FAQs

Becoming ill while traveling in a foreign country can be frightening.  The university’s medical assistance provider can help you identify suitable medical facilities and in some destinations find a physician who can come to your accommodations.  This service is available 24/7 by calling the Northeastern Travel Support Network’s international assistance hotline +1.857.214.5332.

Before traveling, consider the following steps:

  • Check your personal insurance coverage with your carrier and specifically identify whether or not you are covered while traveling abroad. Ask for advice on medical care while traveling.
  • If your insurance policy does not cover you abroad, you may wish to consider purchasing a short-term health insurance policy that does. The US State Department offers some information here.
  • If you have a pre-existing medical condition, carry a letter from your primary healthcare provider describing the condition and any prescription medicines you are currently taking. These should include generic names for these medicines.
  • Email the International Safety Office (mytravelplans@northeastern.edu) to learn about different medical options in your destination.

Consider calling local law enforcement and/or your closest embassy or consulate. If you need advice, additional support, or would like to notify the university, contact Northeastern Travel Support Network’s international assistance hotline at +1.857.214.5332.

You can also call NUPD at the non-emergency number +1.617.373.2121 or emergency number +1.617.373.3333.

Immediately ask to speak with a representative from the nearest embassy or consulate of your country of citizenship if you are arrested for any reason. Locations of U.S. Embassies may be found on their website. Embassy information worldwide for all travelers may be found at http://embassy.goabroad.com. You should also attempt to contact your emergency point of contact, as well as the university via the Northeastern Travel Support Network’s international assistance hotline +1.857.214.5332.