No matter how well you plan, emergencies still do happen. What
should you do in case of an emergency?
You can always contact a Fleet and
Family Support Center if you are close to a base. We are here to help
you! For medical emergencies go to the nearest military hospital, if
one is available, or the local civilian hospital emergency room for
assistance. VA hospitals will see active duty personnel, while family
members will only be treated on a space available basis.
Don't forget to
keep important papers with you for emergencies as well as for safety. Take along
a medical information sheet or medical record, with shot record
included,
for each family member. Also have bank account and investment documents, Powers
of Attorney, personal property records, wills, a recent tax return, school
records, employment records, plus any other documents you feel that you may
need.
The American Red Cross is always available for emergency aid
anywhere you may be. Contact the nearest chapter - phone numbers are
usually listed in the white pages of the local phone directory. They can help
with emergency financial assistance and contacting individuals that will need to
know where you are and what's happening. Financial assistance is
provided for military personnel and their immediate families in the form of
interest free loans or grants when urgent personal crisis arises like death in
family. Quick communications with home about family emergencies is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including verification of death or
serious illness of immediate family member, birth announcements to fathers
deployed overseas, and health and welfare reports resulting from a lack of
communication over a long period of time.
Navy/Marine Corps Relief
Society can provide financial emergency assistance based upon need, through
either loans or, when there is a particular hardship,
grants. Categories of financial assistance include: basic living
expenses, medical not covered by TRICARE, dental not covered by DDP, funeral
expenses, emergency transportation, essential car repairs, pay and allotment
problems, disasters and assistance for widows, mothers and
children.
Numbers for NAS Command Duty Office (301-342-1095/1096/1097),
Personnel Support Detachment-PSD (301-342-7301/7203), your command and your
sponsor can be invaluable in case of and emergency while in
transit. It is important for you to contact someone at your gaining
unit and let them know where and how you are.