International SOS Provides On-the-ground Assistance, Ongoing Support to Clients in Wake of Haiti Earthquake

TREVOSE, Pa., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- International SOS, a leading global provider of medical assistance, healthcare and security services, is providing ongoing emergency assistance to its clients who have employees based in Haiti, or who may be travelling there.

In the immediate wake of the earthquake, International SOS activated a crisis management team in its Philadelphia alarm center to begin coordination operations. The global team, made up of medical, security, aviation and logistics experts, has secured assets and providers and is considering options for evacuations, has provided the other 25 International SOS alarm centers around the world with information to help their members locally and is continuing to prepare and implement action plans that address the fluid nature of the situation.

An incident management team deployed by International SOS arrived in Haiti yesterday. The team consists of two security specialists from Philadelphia who are part of a joint venture between International SOS and Control Risks, one of the world's leading security risk management consultancies. Additionally, a medical team also from Philadelphia has been deployed to support ongoing evacuation efforts and today a logistical expert team is traveling to the area to further assist with coordination and travel arrangements.

"We have received a significant number of calls for assistance from our members with most calls taking place a few hours after the event," said Suzanne Garber, Chief Operating Officer in the U.S. for International SOS. "We're seeing a blend of non-profit and humanitarian organizations asking us for advice and assistance as they deploy their staffs to Haiti, as well as universities and multi-national corporations who have students or employees in the region who they would like to evacuate from the area."

International SOS estimates its alarm center has received more than 200 calls for assistance since the crisis broke and is currently working 100 active cases for 60 clients who have various employees, students or others involved, with some requesting evacuations. Travel security email alerts have been sent to clients around the world advising of the earthquake and tsunami warnings along with analysis and advice. In addition, subsequent alerts have been sent highlighting the impact of the events and emerging health and safety issues.

International SOS and Control Risks have utilized their proprietary travel tracker system to identify members in the affected areas, as well as responding to calls to International SOS alarm centers in Philadelphia, London and elsewhere.

About International SOS

Operating in over 70 countries, International SOS (http://www.internationalsos.com) helps organizations manage the health and security risks facing their travellers and international expatriates. Using its worldwide network of alarm centers, clinics, and over 55,000 health and logistics providers, the company offers local expertise, preventative advice, and emergency assistance during critical illness, accident, or civil unrest. International SOS provides medical and security information services, medical consulting, staffing support, occupational healthcare, and healthcare management services globally. In 2008 the company handled over 1,000,000 cases, including nearly 18,000 evacuations. International SOS works in partnership with businesses, governments and non-governmental organizations and currently provides key services to 83 percent of the Fortune Global 100 companies.  Working in some of the most inhospitable places on earth, International SOS offers international standards of medical care where it is not available or where cultural and language barriers exist.

About Control Risks

Control Risks (www.controlrisks.com) is one of the world's leading global business risk consultancies. As a trusted adviser to almost three quarters of the Fortune Global 500, we enable our clients to succeed in complex and hostile environments. We provide the information, advice and practical support they need to manage the political, security and integrity risks that come with doing business internationally.

SOURCE International SOS

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