International SOS confirms 'Friendly Games'

Company reports 35% increase in UK website traffic as travellers sought updates and intelligence

13 August 2012 – London, International SOS, the world’s leading medical and security services company, shares experience from supporting clients and thousands of travellers during London2012.

During the Games, International SOS assisted travellers from over 16 countries including an athlete, who needed treatment after injury in competition.It sent out 25 travel security alerts and had an increase of 35% of UK visits to its websitein search for intelligence.

International SOS, who has been assisting clients during large-scalesporting events for two decades,partnered with blue-chip clients, sponsorswho had guests attending the Olympics, and athletes. The company helped these clients to execute on their crisis and business continuity plans, provided them with real-time travel security updates as well as mitigated travel and medical emergencies faced by their travellers.

As 205 countries sent their athletes to the Olympics and hundreds of thousands of international spectators followed, often with limited spoken English abilities. Multilingual individuals can play life-saving roles in mitigating emergencies.

Dr Ryan Copeland, Medical Director, International SOS says: “When our members need help in London, they often first called International SOS assistance centres in their home cities, for instance, Beijing or Tokyo. Our global assistance centres’ medical coordinators are fluent in 90 languages efficiently taking key information—medical histories and symptoms—and thenarrange local treatment for the patient.”For minor ailments, cuts, grazes and migraine headaches, many travellerspostponed getting treatment in order to see more of the Games: “While the health of the patient is our top priority, when appropriate, we want to be efficient when providing care, so that guests could get back to enjoying the Games, which for many was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Barring a major incident, the most typical risk to travellers was petty crime, like theft or pick-pocketing. “Travellers, who are relaxed and in ‘holiday-mode’, tend to be less vigilant than usual in regards to their personal safety. However, based on the relatively low call volume into our Assistance Centre, the term, ‘The Friendly Games,’ ringstrue.London 2012 has been quiet, however, organisations, who spent time on contingency planning, gained a host of operational benefits. This preparation will continue to be of value during the upcoming Paralympics, which should see high numbers of visitors with reports of sold out events at the Stadium and Velodrome. Companies need to make best efforts to protect their people, it’s their duty of care,” says Paul Hogan, General Manager Assistance, International SOS.