USA – Travel tips, health and safety

• You can drink tap water in the USA without worry. 
• In the states of the Midwest and Southwest, it gets downright hot in the summer: When outdoors, always wear headgear and use sunscreen.
• In principle, vaccination is not compulsory for the USA. You can see which vaccinations are still recommended here:
• The Robert Koch Institute advises travellers to the US to have all standard vaccinations refreshed before departure.
• For special risk profile Hepatitis B vaccination is also advised by the tropical institute in Hamburg.
• Since 1999, there have been repeated outbreaks of West Nile fever on the east coast. The mosquito-borne disease manifests itself in flu-like symptoms as well as fever, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, vomiting and loss of appetite. In most cases, the virus subsides after a week without any permanent damage.

Medical care in the USA is first class: Many clinics and hospitals have the latest technology, the highest hygiene standards and well-trained staff. For longer car journeys, distances to the nearest hospital can be problematic. Do not postpone a doctor's appointment in case of acute symptoms. The staff mostly speaks only English. 
In the USA, a distinction is made between simple "community hospitals", state university hospitals, special hospitals and private hospitals. As a general rule, emergency departments must treat life-threatening cases even if cost recovery has not been clarified. Nevertheless, you will always receive an invoice from the hospital. Prices are extremely high, especially at private clinics. 1,000 US dollars for a clinic room per day is quite standard. 
The Federal Foreign Office recommends that you book a travel health insurance so that you do not have to bear these costs.

Important information: Do not pay in advance at the hospital!

In the event that you are treated in a hospital in the USA and are asked to make an advance payment, please refrain from making a payment. We protect you from an unjustified charge if no payment has yet been made. We carefully and reliably check the services provided and costs for you. A hospital may not refuse to treat a patient in the USA either.

Constantly necessary medicines should better be brought from home. Our tip: Ideally, you should have a medical certificate with you so that you do not get into trouble at American customs.

You can buy simple painkillers in pharmacies (pharmacy) as well as in supermarkets. Prescriptions are only to be redeemed in pharmacies. You can get an overview of branches in your area at Town Pharmacies or at RX List (including 24-hour pharmacies).

Take a moment to think about your travel safety before your holiday – it pays off! Find out if the Federal Foreign Office has issued safety and security warnings for your destination. Or whether there are severe weather warnings for your holiday destination. So you are prepared for everything and can simply sit back and relax during your holiday.

Travel warnings, as well as safety and security advice from the Federal Foreign Office (German)

Travel warnings, as well as safety and security advice (English – source: Government of Canada)

Since the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the USA has been on a "heightened terror alert". At airports, border crossings and other transport hubs, security checks are tightened accordingly. Please check in advance with your airline which items you are allowed to carry in your hand luggage and allow sufficient time (at least 3 hours) for check-in. You can find more information on security regulations on the pages of the Department of Homeland Security or the Transportation Security Administration.

Always take good care of your valuables. Money, tickets and other valuables should be kept in a safe place, for example, in the hotel safe. Even in the USA, valuables should not be left in a parked car. This is especially true at airports, bus stations or railway stations: Beware of pickpockets! Just in case, it is advisable to make copies of all important documents, including airline tickets, and keep them separately.

The USA is a diverse travel destination with unlimited possibilities – so it's no wonder that America is a popular destination for holidaymakers, backpackers and au pairs. Everyone will find exactly what they are looking for – winter sports enthusiasts are drawn to the Rocky Mountains, sunshine fans enjoy Florida's beaches all year round, and adventurers like to drive across the country on Route 66.

Not to forget the exciting metropolises like New York, Los Angeles and Miami. On the East Coast, the most popular destination by far is New York City. The city attracts millions of tourists every year. So many different people and cultures meet here that you have the feeling of taking a little trip around the world in one day. From Chinatown to Little Italy and Little India, a whole day can be spent just discovering the smells and foods of the world.

The USA has one of the highest densities of national parks (over 50 parks), which are home to numerous species of animals and impressive natural wonders. Most of them are in the southwest of the country. Visitors can marvel at giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park and see grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park. Even completely untouched nature can still be experienced in the USA.

Natural disasters usually occur unpredictably. Therefore, it is advisable to learn as much as you can about the holiday region and potential dangers. Your safety is a top priority and we want to prepare you for what natural hazards occur in the US and how best to protect yourself in the event of a disaster.

• Bush and forest fires, California (July to December) Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
• Earthquakes, Alaska, Hawaii and Western USA USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
• Hurricanes (May to November) National Hurricane Center
• Winter snowstorms on the US East Coast
• Tornadoes, Hurricanes (March to July), Midwest
•  Volcanoes, Alaska, Hawaii and Western U.S. U.S. Volcanoes and Current Activity Alerts

Some of the animal and plant life in the USA is dangerous and poisonous. If you are in a forested area, take a look at the Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Information Centre website in advance. Venomous animals such as rattlesnakes, spiders or scorpions are particularly widespread in the steppe and desert-like areas such as Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California. 

Our tip: Always wear sturdy shoes when hiking and watch where you step. However, if you are bitten or stung, immediately immobilise the affected area, photograph the animal if possible and call an emergency doctor immediately.

Alcohol consumption is generally handled very strictly. It is not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages in public places. The official blood alcohol limit for drivers in the USA is 0.8. 

Swimwear is compulsory: With the exception of specially designated beaches, nudism is prohibited in the USA and is punishable by fines. 

The minimum age for a rental car is between 21 and 25 years, depending on the state. In addition to the rental fee, you must purchase liability and comprehensive insurance (loss/damage waiver).

A national driver's licence is accepted for a period of one year in the USA, but an international driver's licence is mandatory in some US states.

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington
4645 Reservoir Road
Washington, DC 20007, USA

Contact:
Tel: +1 202 298 40 00
www.washington.diplo.de

German Consulates in the USA
The Federal Foreign Office operates Consulates general in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and New York.

Honorary consulates are located in:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Bermuda, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois  Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

All contacts at a glance at the Federal Foreign Office and US Embassy and Consulates in Germany. 

US Embassy Berlin
Clayallee 170
14191 Berlin

Contact:
Tel: Tel. +49-30-8305-0

If you are in the USA, you can dial 911 from any phone.

Tip: Calls placed using the emergency call service are usually answered within 12 seconds. You may end up in a "holding pattern". Please do not hang up. When your call is answered, nothing will be heard for a moment. Please wait until the emergency call centre starts talking. 

If you do not speak English, tell the emergency call centre and state the language you speak. An interpreter will be called in.

911 Police, fire brigade and emergency doctor
Tel. 011 49 116 116 Block credit cards
Tel. 411 General telephone information (directory assistance)
Tel. 511 Road traffic information
 

HanseMerkur's Emergency Call Service is there for you as an insured person worldwide. 
24 hours a day – around the clock. Including on Sundays and public holidays, quick help in case of emergency.

Phone (worldwide): +49 40 5555-7877