 DAN began taking calls during the weekend of the disaster from members who needed medical evacuations and help in traveling out of the affected areas.
Many divers have called to volunteer to go to Thailand to assist with recovery efforts. However, host countries have maintained they do not need direct assistance and are not allowing anyone in the ocean. Officials are asking that no divers respond in person to the tsunami relief effort in the affected areas at this time.
If you have questions about locating friends and family in Southeast Asia, several hotlines are available. For inquiries about DAN Members and family, call DAN.
Thanks to the many of you who have enquired about signing up to go to Southeast Asia to help with the cleanup.
Our first recommendation is to check with the charities listed on our website.
Although we'll likely be adding more as the news comes in, we have learned there are two agencies enlisting volunteers:
DAN is Ready to Help
Here is a summary of what DAN is doing to serve its Members and their needs from this event.
Medical Services
- No DAN Members have been reported missing, but thousands of tourists still remain unaccounted for in the region.
- DAN has repatriated eight DAN Members to their home countries. This has included cash advances and guarantees of payment for travel and medical expenses.
- DAN is currently providing medical monitoring for 10 hospitalised DAN Members who require advanced medical care.
- DAN is presently dealing with more than 70 insurance enquiries and claims, mainly regarding loss of equipment.
- DAN TravelAssist Provider MedAire Advises on Disease
Insurance and Assistance
DAN TravelAssist continues to work nonstop to ensure that urgent care and needed services are quickly and effectively delivered to DAN Members.
Beginning soon after the massive waves hit the Southeast Asian shorelines, DAN TravelAssist began its standard process of urgently evacuating DAN Members to advanced regional medical facilities, providing cash payments for clothing and other basic needs, arranging embassy and consulate services to re-establish identities and make contact with families, and delivering replacement airline tickets for travel home.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you have been affected by these events and require urgent DAN or DAN TravelAssist support, please call the appropriate DAN Hotline.
For less urgent member and insurance benefits, such as trip interruption and lost diving equipment, you may request a claim form by email here, phone 1-800-292-8381 or +1-803-434-2967 or fax +1-803-434-4354.
Next: Relief Efforts
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