How to Travel Safe and Reduce Risks on Mission Trips

Whether you’re a leader in an organization or an individual missionary, we can work together to minimize health and safety risks during mission trip activities.

4 Steps to Manage Risks and Keep Missionaries Safe

1. Identify Potential Risks

List ALL potential risks. Whether animal rescue, environmental protection, manual labor, or community development, there are health risks associated that you want to be aware of.

2. Prioritize Risks

Ask yourself how likely it is that an illness or injury will occur. If it does occur, how serious will it be? Using a risk factor scale could help you determine what type of missionary, if any, should be placed in that position.

3. Proactively Minimize Risks

• Eliminate the risk altogether.
• Change the risk to reduce the likelihood of a health or safety issue.
• Change the way your missionaries work so they can avoid the safety risk.

4. Get Travel Insurance for Missionaries

Compare your options for missionary travel and medical insurance and make sure you recommend the appropriate coverage to your missionaries. Knowing you’ve got coverage offers peace of mind.

How Missionaries Travel Safe and Practice Caution

Don’t Blow of Safety Training

Your mission sending organization likely has experience with the various jobs you may be responsible for. Listen to their instruction on how to successfully and safely complete each task. If you’re unsure of the proper procedure, don’t hesitate to ask a supervisor.

Ask for the Risk Management Plan

The mission sending organization you’re working with should have a detailed risk management plan in place and it should be available for you to view. Just knowing they have plans in place will give you peace of mind.

Know the Procedures for Emergencies

• Understand which areas are at high risk. Take proper precautions and follow protocol.
• Know who on your team is responsible for carrying out emergency procedures.
• Understand how you will be protected from external threats.

Get Travel Insurance for Mission Trips

Some mission sending organization may provide the necessary coverage for you, but some organizations may require that you obtain the necessary coverage on your own. Compare your travel insurance options and purchase the plan that will provide the best coverage for your situation.