Expedition Medicine
and Tailored Expedition Risk Assessment Service
TrExMed help groups or individuals plan and prepare for research expeditions, charity treks, or other adventurous activities in remote places. Dr Jim Bond carries out all the expedition risk assessments.
As every expedition is unique, so is every expedition risk assessment Jim carries out. Typically what is involved is:
- After leaving your contact details, Jim would phone you back to discuss your plans and gather more information about your expedition for example, what level of medical/first-aid expertise that will be available among the expedition members, where you have got to so far with your planning, and what advice/extra help you are seeking from us. He would consider the time/work involved and get back to you with a quote. If this is acceptable, he will then carry out some or all of the following:
- Research proposed journey area for local risks and resources, e.g. habitat and weather/seasonal considerations, water supply, locally endemic diseases, recent disease outbreaks, dangerous animals (including profile of local, venomous snakes), risks of violence, transport infrastructure and access to health care facilities
- Assess risks from the expedition's planned activities from the obvious, such as white water rafting through to the more mundane, such as camp hygiene.
- Review individual medical histories of proposed expedition members and follow up with their GP(s) if necessary.
- Consider local cultural factors and the ethical impact of the expedition, its effect on local people, their economy, health services etc
- Discuss further with expedition leader/medic any issues arising, e.g. practicalities of emergency communications and casualty evacuation plans, from an objective perspective.
- Put together a preliminary report of all the anticipated risks to health and safety for the expedition, with suggestions for how to minimise risks, e.g. safety protocols, vaccinations, items for personal and expedition medical kits etc.
- Prepare an interactive, evening presentation to the prospective expedition members (+/- anxious parents etc) to outline and discuss the above recommendations, address any concerns etc.
- Prepare a final report for expedition team members, (school governors, university/Botanics supervisory committees, funders etc.).
Any expedition members who then wish to take up some of the standard travel medicine services at the TrExMed Travel Clinic (vaccination, medication etc), would then be eligible for a reduced ('short consultation') rate for their initial visit.
Local venomous snakes and other 'critters'
We are very fortunate to be able to call upon the services of Mark O'Shea, a world-renowned herpetologist and tropical snake expert, with whom Jim has worked in the past.
Mark has compiled his own database of medically significant venomous snakes and other dangerous 'critters' (e.g. scorpions, ants etc), geographically searchable for every part of the world.
Combining Mark's wide experience and knowledge of snakes and their behaviour, together with Jim's medical perspective of managing snakebites in the bush (or even at a district general hospital level in Africa), we feel we can offer a uniquely informed service for expeditions.
If you would like to find out more about Mark's work, please visit: www.markoshea.info
First step to arrange tailored risk assessment
To arrange to discuss your requirements for a tailored expedition health risk assessment, please telephone: 0131 447 2340 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or leave a message on the Contact page
