When you are on assignment it is important that you and your family have access to accredited doctors and quality healthcare. This case study highlights the importance of this.

A 12-year-old Japanese boy was enjoying his holiday with his family when he lost consciousness in the sea off Langkawi Island, Malaysia. His family were unable to speak the language and did not have the sufficient funds for medical expenses. Our evacuation of the child to a medical facility that was able to treat him meant he was able to regain consciousness after a week’s coma.

An executive working for a major consumer goods company was on a business trip in Chester, UK, when his throat increasingly became sore.

If you are unlucky enough to lose your passport while you are abroad, it can be time-consuming and stressful to get a replacement. We can often make things easier—by scheduling appointments with embassies, arranging translation, wiring emergency funds, and rebooking flights home.

Cyclone Pam had a devastating impact on the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu late at night on 13th March 2015. Shortly after impact, we had ascertained that 27 of our clients had close to 400 staff in the immediate vicinity.

Measles is highly contagious. Though not usually fatal, serious complications can occur amongst those with compromised immune systems, children and the elderly. As such, any measles outbreak is considered very serious.

A Swiss employee on assignment contacted one of our Assistance Centres as she was having difficulty coping with her new post in the Czech Republic.

Schools and universities have a Duty of Care obligation to protect students from foreseeable risk when studying or travelling abroad through the institution. This includes supporting students’ mental health, which can be exacerbated when away from home, their support systems and familiar customs or behaviours.

In July 2016, an organisation required employee evacuation from South Sudan after six days of confinement to protect themselves from armed conflicts occurring within the city. Immediate psychological and emotional support was provided to victims to help ensuring full recovery.

American mother who had learnt that her 19 year old daughter had been involved in a motorbike accident some hours earlier in Kedonganan, Bali. Her daughter, who was a college student on a school trip to Bali, had been admitted to a local hospital with serious leg and hip injuries. The hospital was asking for payment before treating her daughter’s injuries and were unwilling to accept the mother’s credit card payment from the US.

International SOS supports organisations working in Ebola-affected countries. After two doctors were exposed to the virus while working for an NGO, we evacuated them to the Netherlands where they could access potentially life-saving medical support.

When your company does not have an adequate medical programme in place, costs can escalate along with increased employee sick time and lowered productivity.

On 14 January 2016, terrorists set off a series of explosions in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. A gun battle then ensued; injuring 20 people and killing 4. During and after the incident, we were able to provide our clients with essential updates and advice, sourced from our on-the-ground team of security experts.

The earthquake causes a tsunami – 12,000 die and 15,000 are missing. Roads, housing and communication networks destroyed. Fukushima nuclear power plant is struck; state of nuclear emergency is declared. Initial natural disaster widens and quickly becomes a medical-related crisis. Strong aftershocks and rolling blackouts leave millions without power.

A 56 year old British gentleman was on a Mediterranean holiday cruise with his wife when he started feeling unwell. Because the ship’s doctor became concerned that the patient’s symptoms were related to a cardiac problem, the patient and his wife were disembarked at the next port, a Corsican town called Ajaccio. He was admitted to the local public hospital and then moved by air ambulance to a private specialist unit in Marseilles on the mainland.

At many remote mining and drilling sites in addition to the employees and contractors living and working onsite, there may be several communities living nearby. This case study shows how effective malaria control for a work site accounts for the broader population around the project through vector control and health promotion programs. It addresses the employer’s corporate and social responsibility obligations while helping meet productivity targets.

An employee of Group Five, a leading African construction, concessions and manufacturing group, had been admitted to a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with malaria.

On 20 November 2015 terrorists attacked an internationally recognised hotel chain in Bamako, capital of Mali. They took 170 hostages and killed 20 in a mass shooting. Throughout the day, our crisis management teams in Paris and London provided essential advice to clients. Our unique operations network meant we were able to maintain contact with clients and members affected and coordinate the response accordingly. Control Risks' embedded crisis management resource further enabled the effectiveness of support.

More and more people are travelling overseas with medical equipment that they need to survive. If this equipment is lost or malfunctions, it is critical to find a replacement as soon as possible. The case study below describes how we were able to rapidly locate and replace lost medical equipment for a member.

When your company needs to understand the full medical risks of a remote project, requires on-the-ground medical support and equipment, and necessitates a customised evacuation plan, it can be daunting. This is exactly what an international oil and gas company required to support their geological exploration and drilling expedition in Mauritania. Project manager, Javier Artime, commissioned International SOS to provide medical support for the seven-month project.