Prevention is better than cure…
During your project Think Pacific staff are there to help you with the challenges and unique experiences of project. We ask you to take a pro-active approach to your health and safety also, including taking responsibility for your own health and wellbeing on project. This page advises steps you can take to ensure the best possible project for all.
When visiting rural villages, expect sanitation facilities to be very basic and your risk of ilness is often far greater than it would be at home. We ask you to prepare for these conditions, take a proactive approach to your health and follow simple but important measures to stay safe.
Follow all pre-departure advice
Ensure you have read and follow carefully all the advice included within this portal, in particular:
- Ensure you complete all modules of this Portal before departure.
- Read and understand the COVID Process for Fiji and understand your requirements
- Make sure you have the vaccinations for Fiji (We deem Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Covid as essential)
- Purchase all recommended first aid items.
- Get Travel Insurance and take time to read and understand your policy inclusions.
- Advise Think Pacific fully about any existing medical condition, including mental health
Advise Think Pacific of any pre-existing medical conditions
- Please be proactive and advise our staff if you have any health concerns at all.
- If you have any pre-existing medical conditions it is vital that you contact our team to chat through in confidence before you depart and also list this on any booking form or pre-departure form or send to us in writing.
- If you suffer any health problems before departure or you are prescribed any medication prior to leaving, it is essential that you fully advise Think Pacific and your insurance company.
- For any prescribed medication ensure you have a letter signed by your doctor identifying and explaining what the medication is and why it is needed.
Take extra care in the tropics
- Experience shows it’s the small things that cause some of the biggest health issues on project!
- Due to the high heat and humidity of the tropics, simple cuts, scrapes and mosquito bites can become infected very quickly and take a long time to heal.
- Take extra care with regards to sanitation and looking after cuts and bites.
- For any cut – immediately clean, apply antiseptic and cover the area.
- Continue to keep cuts clean – and do not swim in the sea or bathe in the river with cuts.
- Bites can easily become infected and cause itching and discomfort. Use mosquito sprays liberally and wear long sleeved clothes to bed. There is no malaria in Fiji but mosquito bites can naturally cause discomfort.
Keep hydrated
- Dehydration can be a major cause of illness in Fiji
- Drink regularly throughout the day
- Bring a good quality water bottle and carry it with you during the day.
- Being dehydrated is the number 1 major cause of stomach infections and diarrhoea during our projects.
- Thirst is a sign of dehydration; don’t wait for it to happen!
Sanitation & Keeping clean
- Sanitation facilities can be very poor, especially in rural areas
- Ensure that you keep yourself clean regularly, even with limited shower or bathing faciliites.
- Take sanitising hand gel for use before meals
- Wash your hands regularly, especially after touching foreign plants
- Clean and cover any cut or scrape immediately
Take care in the sun
- Avoid being out in sun for prolonged periods, especially midday heat
- Use a high-factor sun cream (factor 20 or above)
- Keep covered up during the day
- Wear loose fitting clothes that cover the shoulders
Menstrual advice on project
Read and follow our code of conduct
- If you have any questions or there is anything you don’t understand, always ask our leaders.
- Behave respectfully and follow our Code of Conduct at all times.
- Don’t openly display money or leave this lying around the community.
- Take as little valuable items to the village as possible
- You are not permitted to drink alcohol within any Fijian village. At the resorts, only ever drink alcohol in moderation
- Drugs will not be tolerated.
Emergency contact numbers..
Next of kin can contact our main number 0113 335 9919 or email Info@thinkpacific.com during office hours whilst you are away
We also operate an ‘out of hours’ phone number, which next of kin can use to contact Think Pacific in an emergency.
Think Pacific Emergency phone number: 0113 335 9922
Be aware of potential medical costs
Please note that Think Pacific can arrange transport for you to see a medical professional, however, any costs associated with transport to see a doctor or any medical costs themselves must be paid by you locally in Fiji and are not part of the project fee.
Insurance often works on a ‘pay and claim basis’. Therefore you must ensure that you have adequate reserve money to pay for any hospital treatment, keep the receipts and you can then submit your claim to be reimbursed by your insurance company.
Be mindful of risks
Think Pacific undertakes thorough risk assessments for all our expeditions, which are updated prior to each individual project through assessment visits by our Fiji based team. We encourage you to play an active part in assessing potential risks and understanding why prevention measures are taken.
What is a ‘PPP’?
Every week during the project you will have a PPP. It stands for Personal Project Planning. This is a scheduled one-to-one meeting with one of your expedition leaders. This is time to discuss your role in the village and for us to help you to get the most from your experience. PPP’s are a great chance for you to speak in confidence about anything that may be troubling you as you adjust to life in the Fijian community. Please don’t ever be shy in advising us of any concerns, especially with regards to your health and we can offer assistance to support you.
Top tips…
- Be honest with your Project Leaders about your health
- Clean & Cover all cuts and scrapes.
- Drink lots of water & purify water.
- Be mindful of yours and others mental health – project life can have its own, different challenges for everyone.
- Read our mental health guide
- Bring a comprehensive first aid kit
- Ensure you have adequate insurance
- Insurance is usually ‘pay and claim process’ – ensure you have reserve funds any emergency medical expense.
- Get your jabs for Fiji early
- Stay up to date with latest COVID guidelines