The morning and afternoon health check in’s should enable you as leaders to monitor group health closely. It is likely you will need to make a couple of trips to local medical facilities a week, usually for antibiotics for common ailments such as gastroenteritis or infected mosquito bites.
As a standard non-emergency doctors trips (anything where you would not call 999) should be organised in the morning. It is Think Pacific’s policy to avoid unnecessary travel at night time (after 5pm) to protect our volunteer and staff safety.
Please be vigilant in setting these standards with volunteers. Be proactive in arranging health clinic trips where needed.
Please note, if a volunteer specifically requests to seek medical advice outside these hours reiterate why we do medical visits in the morning, but if they still wish to go, we must facilitate this.
Morning
AM Health Check In – Good to check in with any volunteers who have fallen ill overnight and ensure they have medication they require and know how to take this appropriately, if not provide advice, basic first aid and supplies from the first aid kit.
AM Health Clinic Visits – Where possible, organise these in advance the night before and aim to share transport with other villagers.
Afternoon
PM Health Check In – Volunteers tend to start to worry more about their health in the evening. This afternoon check in allows you to reassure volunteers, provide any further first aid/supplies, update health diary and make sure they have what they need overnight.
PM Clinic Visit Planning – If you feel non-emergency treatment outside the community is required you can discuss and make arrangements to visit a doctor or nursing station in the morning.
Any emergency cases should seek medical attention immediately (e.g. impact, excessive bleeding, broken bones, severe allergic reactions, unconsciousness, severe pain – any instance where you would call 999)