International SOS is keeping you safe, always

What are the types of tracking and communications tools that International SOS has developed and is using to help clients?

We have the International SOS Assistance App, an essential tool for school trip leaders, faculty, and the workforce to stay informed and safe when travelling. The app provides personalised pre-trip checklists, travel advisor information, Covid-19-related updates, medical and security alerts, a doctor finder, primary healthcare search, cashless service requests, and 24/7 live support. The app is a core feature of school or university campus resilience programmes.

Dr David Teo, regional medical director, International SOS.

Your organisation has developed a White Paper specifically for schools, can you tell us more about it and why the paper is important for the education industry?

For three years, the education system has been disrupted by Covid-19. The Business Continuity Plans (BCP) made for managing infectious disease, if present, were not able to cope with this new disease and the speed by which it spread within schools. Gate screening, personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe distancing have taken on new meaning and imposed new challenges for physical classes. 

Schools now understand the need to put in the right BCP and training for the management of infectious diseases to trigger the appropriate response level to common symptoms such as fever and cough. This can be seen as applying the necessary brakes to mitigate an escalating situation. Such ‘brake pad’ measures include having access to infectious diseases experts or medical subject matter experts to provide actionable information and advice.

The impact of the pandemic has also taken a heavy toll on the mental health of both students and campus staff, as seen in the rise in incidents of stress, depression, and self-harm during this period. Hence, it is important for campuses to build a Mental Health Resilience Programme as another ‘brake pad’. Such a holistic system can help staff and students manage acute and prolonged crises and build resilience rather than just managing the short-term effects of mental issues. This is also critical for students and staff to withstand the next crisis.

Our Campus Health Guidelines II aims to be the ‘brake’ that schools can utilise to help them go forward. A short but concise table on the characteristic of infectious diseases that impact schools are well tabulated for easy reading and allows the teachers and school nurses to have a quick cross-check on what would be the likely diseases that they could be dealing with and most importantly, how long the infected staff or students should stay away from school. When the next infectious disease hits or the next crisis comes, this ‘brake’ allows the school to take a short temporal stop to activate the measures and then move forward again safely. Our White Paper is available for download at internationalsosfoundation.org.

Ann Marie Simpson, director of risk management, International School of Kuala Lumpur

Please share the International SOS services that are used at ISKL.

At ISKL, our diverse learning opportunities frequently see our students and employees travel within Malaysia and Southeast Asia whether as part of our school-wide outdoor experiential learning program or for competitions at schools across the region. Our partnership with International SOS provides the additional high-level expertise and proactive support we need to conduct these trips as safely as possible. 

From a big-picture perspective, we use International SOS’ medical and security assessments of countries and our region to inform our decision-making process and ensure we base our decisions on the most up-to-date global information. They assist us with third-party risk assessments so that we are prepared for any situation we may encounter and provide us with risk ratings for the security and medical landscape of the area of travel that we use to guide our pre-trip decisions around health, safety, and security. 

For example, all of ISKL’s Grade 9-11 students participate in our bespoke Global Action Program which is designed to build students’ awareness of emerging global issues by involving them in a range of cultural, environmental, and service opportunities within Southeast Asia. International SOS is instrumental in helping us assess locations and ensure we are fully prepared for all eventualities. This also applies to our outdoor interdisciplinary co-curricular program Malaysia Week which sees our Middle School students head to the reefs and rainforests of Malaysia. During the week students learn about the environment they are in while engaging in activities that range from diving, hiking, and kayaking to abseiling, building shelters, and survival skills.

For the trip itself, International SOS partners with us on a multi-stakeholder basis, from helping our risk management and nursing teams prepare for possible medical needs to helping brief and prepare ISKL’s trip leaders as well. This ensures those leading the trip are competent and confident in assessing and responding quickly and effectively to minor injuries and illnesses, minor security threats, and importantly, understanding when and how to escalate should the need arise.

Can you take us through the process of how ISKL deals with a health/crisis situation via the help of International SOS?

If an emergency situation were to occur during a school trip, we know that we have access to instant expert support. If, for example, we needed to get a medical professional on location, provide transport and personnel for a medical evacuation, or find a safe place to stay in an emergency situation, we have peace of mind that we can count on International SOS to make it happen. 

The partnership we share with International SOS also includes the backup of its 24/7 in-country assistance centre which gives ISKL’s employees round-the-clock access to a team of professionals who can assist with assessing an injury, illness, or medical emergency. This includes guidance on where to receive treatment (from vetted hospitals or clinics) regardless of where in the world it occurs. Given our large international faculty of educators, this is a particularly valuable support service.