IN THE movies, U.S. embassies and consulates are safe havens for action heroes in peril. But that’s not why they exist.

This is the most common reason Americans abroad seek consular help, says Angela Kerwin, the U.S. State Department’s deputy assistant secretary for overseas citizens services. Even if you lose all your identification, the State Department can help establish who you are, find you a place to stay or get you on an airplane.

The State Department can help if you call by providing info about available medical services. “Each embassy or consulate also maintains a website that has useful information on locally available resources,” Kerwin says. Visit travel.state.gov.

If you are accused of a crime, the State Department can’t bail you out or provide you with legal representation, but a foreign service officer can offer assistance, including helping you find an English-speaking lawyer and notifying contacts back home. If you’re the victim of a crime, it’s also a good idea to check with the consulate. —Art Detman