internationalsos.com - Press releases
International SOS deploys medical and logistics teams in the Sichuan region14 May 2008Beijing
International SOS has medical and logistics teams in place in the Chengdu region affected by the Sichuan earthquake. Our main priorities include identifying affected members, ensuring their comfort and safety, and then if requested, helping them evacuate the region.
International SOS is now able to help people leave by commercial flights which are operating intermittently from local airports. If required, we have wide-bodied aircraft on standby and a Beijing-based jet air ambulance. International SOS is continuing to liaise closely with the Chinese authorities and the Red Cross in the affected area. Upon notification of the disaster, International SOS convened a regional crisis management team. The crisis management team is conducting advance contingency planning to prepare for individual and mass evacuations as required. At this very difficult time, we send our condolences to the victims and their families affected by the disaster. International SOS will do all it can to provide assistance to our clients, members, and victims. International SOS Travel Advice Essential services, transportation and communications systems continue to be disrupted. Basic medical care is largely unavailable. Power outages, damaged/ polluted water supplies, and compromised sanitation all increase the threat of disease outbreaks in the affected areas as well. Members are advised to avoid travel to the affected region until the situation stabilizes. Aftershocks may still occur, and both damaged infrastructure and disrupted services make travel to the area risky. International SOS members who require assistance should contact the International SOS 24-hour Beijing Alarm Centre, +86 10 6462 9100. Operating in over 70 countries, International SOS (http://www.internationalsos.com/) helps organizations manage the health and safety risks facing their travelers and global workforce. Its services range from consultancy and planning services to 24-hour medical and security advice and assistance. It also provides emergency medical and security evacuations when there is a critical illness, accident or civil unrest. Last year, the company handled over 850,000 assistance cases, including more than 16,000 evacuations. |
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