On 27th August 2019, SATIB24 received a call from the Security Manager, of a multi-national game reserve corporation, requesting that SATIB24 take charge of an incident that had occurred at their lodge in Malawi.
The spouse of a lodge staff member had been experiencing severe abdominal pain and cramping, as well as blurred vision for two days. The lodge’s own medical provider made the initial assessment of the patient, and suggested the lodge move her to Mwalwathu Private Hospital.
During the journey the patient’s condition deteriorated, and she was experiencing excruciating pain – a level of nine out of ten. She was hyperventilating and the accompanying medic administered paracetamol and morphine.
It was at this stage that the Security Manager requested the services of SATIB24 and to place Oraclemed on standby if the patient needed to be air-evacuated from Blantyre that evening. As per protocol, a WhatsApp group was created and the SATIB24 medical team added it to this group, to facilitate communications between the main stakeholders.
Following further assessments and diagnosis at Mwalwathu Private Hospital, it was determined that, pending blood test results, medical evacuation to a hospital in Johannesburg would be necessary the next day.
The severity of medical test results confirmed the necessity to evacuate the patient to Johannesburg and the medical evacuation crew was activated to depart Lanseria for Blantyre.
The logistics of such a move required careful planning as an aircraft needed dispatching from Lanseria, Johannesburg, to arrive before 19H00, when Blantyre Airport in Malawi closed.
On arrival at Sunninghill Hospital, the patient was immediately admitted for further tests and a CT scan.
Although initially the protocols of reporting a serious medical incident had been bypassed, SATIB24 was able to draw the various strands together and co-ordinate logistics and communications to ensure the safe evacuation of the patient to the most suitable medical facility, across an international frontier.
The advantages of calling the SATIB24 emergency and crisis help line, in the event of a serious incident, are clear. Not only does this ensure the best possible care for the patient, it also serves to limit liability exposure for the relevant company.
Article by Paul Watkins
Quality Control Manager – SATIB24 Crisis Call Service
