This On Call International article will discuss the following:
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- The challenges organizations and travelers may face when responding to medical emergencies abroad, highlighting how serious illnesses or injuries in international locations can require rapid medical assessments, coordination with local healthcare providers, and access to specialized resources to ensure travelers receive appropriate care.
- How emergency assistance providers facilitate medical evacuations and continuity of care during critical situations, demonstrating the role of medical consultations, hospital capability evaluations, air ambulance coordination, and international transportation planning in safely transferring travelers to facilities equipped to treat complex medical conditions.
- A real-world example of travel assistance supporting a traveler during a life-threatening medical emergency, illustrating how coordinated medical expertise, transportation logistics, and family communication enabled a traveler suffering from severe complications abroad to be evacuated safely, continue treatment closer to home, and focus on recovery with the support of her healthcare team and loved ones.
Background
In Summer 2024, a student-led protest movement ousted Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. The protests resulted in several deaths across the country as well as significant travel disruptions and delays; adding to the chaos, authorities cut off mobile and Internet access for several days in a bid to control the outbreak of protests and violence.
On Call Steps In
As the protests persisted, an On Call client with travelers on the ground in Bangladesh contacted the On Call Security Team (OST) for support. The OST contacted the travelers on the ground and ascertained that they were sheltering in place at a safe location. After determining it was unsafe to travel overland to the international airport in Dhaka, the OST arranged for the travelers ground transportation to the Jashore Domestic Airport, then they ultimately continued on to Dhaka’s International Airport. The constituents were accompanied by a Close Protection Officer (CPO) and security trained driver.
A Successful Outcome
Once at the airport, the CPO remained with the travelers to accompany them on their domestic flight from Jashore to Dhaka. From Dhaka, travelers were able to safely continue their journey home to the U.S.
About On Call International:
When traveling, every problem is unique–a medical crisis, a political threat, even a common accident such as a missed flight. But every solution starts with customized care that ensures travelers are safe and protected. That’s why for over 30 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and emergency assistance services protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Visit www.oncallinternational.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.
