GUEST BLOG: A LIFE-SAVING SOLUTION

Imagine one of your employees is ill or injured abroad. Imagine they need urgent medical attention. Then imagine they are in a hostile environment, where security has broken down, the government looks set to be overthrown and you’re not entirely sure of their whereabouts.

No doubt you’ll already have security and medical assistance in place - but will your providers have experience of collaborating with each other? Will they be able to provide a streamlined response that locates your employee and sees him or her transported to hospital safely, in the small window of opportunity that’s available?

This is exactly the situation that faced the employers of two individuals in South Sudan recently. Both men were in a critical condition, with gunshot wounds and the onset of septicaemia. Local medical facilities were overwhelmed after prolonged fighting in the area and it was obvious that staying in the country much longer would cost the men their lives. But the road to the airport was long and dangerous and the city was hundreds of miles away.

Luckily the men were supported by integrated medical and security assistance, with contingency plans in place for an evacuation. The security situation was being monitored in real-time, border crossing points, air assets and landing zones had been established and secure transport, medical facilities and emergency escorts had been lined up – all to dovetail with each other.

The men were located quickly and transferred in an armoured vehicle with armed escorts to the Ugandan border where a helicopter was waiting for them. The emergency medics on board were ready to take them to a highly regarded hospital in Kampala, where admittance had been arranged. And they were soon on the road to recovery.

It could have been a very different story. Without this unified response, the evacuation could have been fatally delayed, with both patients and emergency medics inadequately protected on their journeys.

It’s not always possible to avert an emergency. But it is often possible to limit its severity by drawing on integrated technology, intelligence, response and assistance that covers both medical and security issues.

Think twice about using disjointed supply chains – it could be the difference between an employee’s life and death.

This post was written by Chris Knight, Head of Corporate Services for CEGA, and Martin Veale, Head of Risk Operations for Solace Global.

CEGA and Solace are exhibiting their one-source medical and security assistance service, INtrinsic, at the Business Travel Show in February, Stand B251. Travel bookers, buyers and managers can register for a free pass.