The bureau that looks out for its citizens

I read the excellent article “You’re Abroad and Tragedy Strikes. How Prepared Are You?” [Travel Insider, Jan. 9] Next time, add information about the Overseas Citizens Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, whose primary concern is the welfare of U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad.

If you are inquiring about a life-or-death emergency or require assistance not addressed at the website www.travel.state.gov, contact Overseas Citizens Services Office at (888) 407-4747 or, from overseas, (317) 472-2328.

I also carry an expired passport in my luggage or give it to a travel companion in case mine is lost.

On a scuba-diving vacation, I give a photocopy of my dive insurance, regular health insurance and contact information and other ID to the dive operator in case something happens to me.

I prepare detailed documents for those back home, giving them the above telephone numbers as well as U.S. Embassy and consular numbers in the destination country and complete information about my itinerary and all emergency contact numbers at my destination.

I also e-mail this information to myself (including airline ticket numbers) to a Web-based e-mail service so that in case of a total loss of information, I can go on the Web and retrieve the information.

This may include scanned images of tickets, passport and the yellow international travel health certificate that shows vaccinations.

Alan Wald

Sherman Oaks