Emergency Information
During your first week in Shanghai, we will hold a mandatory student orientation meeting. We will cover the following topics:
- Health and safety
- Evacuation procedures
- Medical and health issues
- Communication in emergencies
- Student behavior & expectations
- Living in Shanghai as a foreigner
- Personal emergencies
If you have any personal emergencies, please contact a local staff member immediately no matter the time of the day or night. We have an on-site Resident Assistant that is on call 24 hours a day.
All students studying abroad in Shanghai through our BU program is covered with a comprehensive health and emergency travel assistance coverage called HTH Worldwide. For more information regarding HTH: Health Insurance and Emergency Travel Assistance
Shanghai Emergency Numbers
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Fire: 119
Local information line: 114
BU Shanghai Office: +(86-21) 5566 -3378
Helpful Addresses
1469 Huaihai zhong Road (淮海中路1469号)
Shanghai, China 200031
American Citizen Services Section
Citizen Services is the branch office of the US Consulate in Shanghai. If you require something of the consulate, you will most likely visit this location:
1038 West Nanjing Road (南京西路1038号)
Westgate Mall, 8th floor
Tel: (86-21) 3217-4650
Lost or Stolen Passport
If your passport is lost or stolen, please contact a staff member immediately.
Emergency Procedures
Please study these procedures in the rare event of a major emergency.
1. The BU Shanghai Center must be able to get in touch with you at all times.
This means:
- You must carry your cell phone with you at all times
- If you leave Shanghai or stay anywhere other than your Tonghe room overnight, you must inform the staff and fill out an independent travel form.
2. If any event poses an immediate danger to Shanghai, follow these procedures and other publicly announced Chinese or Shanghai government emergency procedures:
- Stay indoors
- If it’s safe and possible, return to your Tonghe apartment.
- If it’s not possible to return to Tonghe, stay indoors where you are, such as at your internship office.
- Windows should be kept closed and the heat or air conditioning turned off.
- Once you are in a safe location, notify BU Shanghai Center staff of your location. The best form of communication is probably texting; calling and email may also work fine.
- Wait for further contact and information from BU staff or other official sources about evacuation procedures.
Additional Information
- Please stay up-to-date with the global news, local government information, American government’s alerts through the Shanghai consulate, and BU alerts.
- Read our government’s warnings on the local consulate webpage
- Again, you are encouraged to join the US or other embassy’s citizen notification programs
- Staying up-to-date is meant to help you avoid panic and anxiety.
- Avoid less scrupulous news sources and overloading on news or predictions of possibilities. Reliable news sources include the NY Times, BBC, and the Guardian.
- It is normal to feel anxious or stressed when environmental tragedies occur and the possibility of a threat exists. Don’t hesitate to let staff know if you’re feeling upset or ill, or if you just feel the need to talk. We’re here to help support you in many ways.
- Please stay in touch with your families and others concerned for your safety outside of China. You are the best source of news to your parents and others who may be worried about your safety.
- Be assured that Boston University and the BU Shanghai Center staff are doing all we can to monitor the situation and stay informed.
