The below process is designed to provide clarity for all Project Leaders on the process for volunteer healthcare, designed to ensure we are consistent in our care. A key point is that ‘success’ is not keeping a sick or injured volunteer on a project, but rather success is ensuring their immediate and long term health as our primary objective.
Please be aware these are standard procedures, however there will be circumstances where it may not be possible or appropriate to follow these guidelines. As a team we need to be adaptable when it comes to health support.
Scenario 1: Illness/Injury & well enough to attend project – Provide support, reassurance, start healthcare diary & ask to attend health check ins.
E.g. Headache, infected bite, diarrhoea, sickness, cough
Scenario 2: Illness/Injury & unable to attend project (for more than 24 hours) – Provide support, reassurance, start healthcare diary & inform Project Coordinator (PC).
E.g. Tonsillitis, persistent vomiting & diarrhoea, constipation
Scenario 3: Deterioration or 48 Hours of Illness/Injury – Visit local medical facility for a professional opinion (Nurse/Doctor). PC should be advised prior to a volunteer being taken to a medical facility (where possible) with information provided on the illness or injury, time frame etc.
E.g. Tonsillitis, persistent vomiting & diarrhoea, scabies, constipation, skin rashes, infected wounds/bites, deep wounds (stitches needed)
Scenario 4: Emergency or Larger Illness (local medical facilities not sufficient) – For any more larger illnesses, mental health incidents or emergencies leaders will accompany the volunteer straight to Suva (where possible & appropriate)
E.g. Broken bone, mental health breakdown, self harm, vomiting blood
Scenario 5: Emergency (with threat of loss of life) – For any life threatening situations provide immediate first aid, contact the all/the relevant emergency services for assistance, and get the volunteer to recommended emergency facility as quickly as possible.
E.g. Anaphylaxis (no epipen), head injury, rapid blood loss, serious self harm
Due to the rural locations of projects you are likely to need your own transport in an emergency to get to medical services faster (unless using Helipro) in this scenario you should still contact emergency services for advice on how to support individuals and where to take them for hospital treatment.
- Contact Police/Ambulance on 917
- Mental Health Crisis – Lifeline Fiji’s 24/7 Crisis Helpline: 1543 (crisis intervention workers)
- Call Helipro (+679) 770 7700. HELIPRO FIJI operates throughout the Fiji Islands and South Pacific for international aeromedical evacuations.
See more detail in the emergency protocol section of this guide ‘ 3.3.6 Leader Emergency Response (Step by Step Guide)’
NB – If a volunteer requests to see a medical professional at any time on a project, this must be done as quickly as reasonably possible.
NBB – Any instance of a volunteer refusing to see a medical professional, or refusing medical treatment advised, and they can be removed from Project immediately under our T&Cs and Duty of Care to our teams.