As an Occupational Health Nurse Manager, I experienced a scare with an employee. One of the nurses I managed became sick recently and I was unable to find her. This nurse had a stellar record of attendance and communication skills. I worried something awful had happened. She had graciously invited my family to a party she was hosting and I happened to have her husbands cell phone number. I was finally able to get hold of the husband, who did not know she was not at work. He was able to track her down and contacted me with the update, she was in the Emergency Room at the local hospital. A recent survey published in Business Travel News addressed Crisis Management. They further identified by the survey the "primary source of employee location and contact information in an emergency". The one page graph did not expand on emergency type or situation. It did not identify disasters. Tools used for company provided emergency assistance program primary sources were email 43% and phone call in person 37%. Tools for company provided traveler/ crisis alerts: Primary sources were email (63%) and internet site(31%). How would your company contact you if there was an emergency back home? How would your company contact you if you had an emergency overseas? As an Occupational Health Nurse we have prepared over 100 business travelers a month with health and safety preparation before business travel. Here are some tips to prepare for quick communication during business travel; Internal in your company; Check with Human Resources and update your emergency contact numbers. After the nurse became sick, I placed that communication must at the top of my priority list for the team of nurses I managed. I encouraged them to update emergency contacts annually. Working with the larger corporations, much of this information is available on the company's home page. The nurses could update their emergency contacts from their computer. Learn policies and procedures for injury or illness at work. The E H&S team or Human Resources can guide that information. Talk to your family or emergency contacts about your emergency plan at work. Let them know what hospital you expect to be transported to, the location of your insurance card and who else to contact for you, if you are unable to make phone calls at the time of the emergency. Prepare for the worst, expect the best. Look for my next article Business overseas Emergency planning