Great outdoors provides a great opportunity
It seems like an obvious idea for a much-needed service in Hong Kong. But it took a training seminar last September to turn the concept of a company specialising in the provision of emergency first-aid services for outdoor-adventure enthusiasts into reality.
'The idea was first raised in casual conversation,' says Adventure Unlimited director Steve Coward. 'The four directors were all attending a three-part course here in Hong Kong designed by Wilderness Alert Canada which qualified us in provision of first-aid, advanced first-aid and advanced medicine as it relates to outdoor adventure activities.'
Mr Coward said no similar training had been offered before in Hong Kong, and recent outdoor and sporting tragedies in the city had highlighted the need to provide such a service.
Over 100 hours, the Canadian trainer instructed them on first-aid, outdoor application of medications such adrenalin and use of defibrillators.
'Adventure Unlimited is able to guarantee provision of all of these services to a variety of organisations, ranging from outdoor adventure organisers to schools and entertainment venues,' Mr Coward said.
The company also encourages these groups to buy defibrillators and would like to also see them in public places such as airports and train stations. US airports are already equipped with defibrillators and trained staff.
'Defibrillators are very user-friendly, cannot be used incorrectly and will also not 'shock' a person recording a heartbeat,' says Mr Coward. 'And while the cost of purchasing one of these is in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, they are cheap when compared to the value we would put on someone's life.'
Mr Coward said they put up $30,000 to establish the company.
'This included company registration, website design and launch, and, general items such as printing business cards and stationery.
'This was also minus the cost of purchasing defibrillators, first-aid kits and the like.
'The other advantage is that the company currently operates from a home office negating outlay on rented premises. This will presumably change as the company grows and expands.'
As part of the service offered by Adventure Unlimited, staff survey the terrain to be used in outdoor adventures, note danger spots, man each of these points and are equipped with mobile phones and walkie-talkies.
'Whether it is a school trip, adventure race, corporate event or expedition, Adventure Unlimited can provide professional crisis managers or first-aid responders, trained to deal swiftly and effectively with many outdoor, first-aid emergencies,' says Mr Coward.
'Currently, there are no regulations governing who is qualified to teach and lead groups in the outdoor environment here in Hong Kong.
'The team from Adventure Unlimited all have many years experience in adventure sports and recognised qualifications.'
Adventure Unlimited is also in negotiation with the Continuing Education fund about offering training courses.
'Our crisis managers carry portable defibrillators into places where they will be needed most; the adventure environment,' he said. 'Having a team member from Adventure Unlimited, who have such training and equipment, can literally mean the difference between life and death.'
Adventure Unlimited also wants to provide portable defibrillator training for businesses. It is standard in the US and Europe to have Public Access Defibrillation programs (PAD) in many meeting places.
'To the best of our knowledge there are no active PAD providers here in Hong Kong,' says Mr Coward. 'Our goal is to become Hong Kong's leading PAD provider and work towards making the HKPAD sign a universally recognised symbol and in doing so increase the public's access to emergency heart defibrillation.'
