The safety and security of our participants, leaders and event support crews is our number one priority.
We are here to provide a challenging event experience in the safest environment possible and there are many steps we take before any challenge is launched:
Reconnaissance
Prior to any public participation, each and every one of our challenge events has been tried and tested by the Global Adventure Challenges Team. This allows us to fully risk assess the event and make any necessary changes, if required.
Outstanding Support & Leadership
Each of our overseas charity challenges is led by either an English speaking Challenge Leader (In-Country Guides) or a UK Challenge Leader, who travels to and from the destination with each group. Every leader is trained in Outdoor First Aid, and each challenge carries a comprehensive medical kit. Doctors are always present on any high altitude trek, and also regularly attend many other events, depending on the destination and challenge.
Our extensive UK and European Challenge Event Crew are handpicked for their enthusiasm, support and experience. Some events have over 30 members of staff supporting the participants! We only use professionals who are paid; we never rely on volunteers – this ensures we have full control over every element of each challenge - from the mechanics tweaking your bikes, right through to the friendly face that crowns you with your challenge medal at the finish line.
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24-Hour Emergency Support
For every challenge, we have a 24-hour on-call system, ready to deal with any emergency that may arise globally. They are a good point of call for your immediate family to contact, should they need to, if you can't be reached.
Risk Management
Our risk management strategy is said to be the best in the business. Our performance and analysis of risk has pleased the toughest Health and Safety Executives from worldwide brands. We operate a system of comprehensive baseline risk assessments, which are backed up by challenge specific risk assessments completed during pre-event reconnaissance, all produced by experienced and qualified members of our team. All risk assessments are reviewed annually at a minimum and any risk assessment for any challenge is readily available on request.
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More information about how your money is secure with us can be found on our Financial Protection page.
Medical Screening
Global Adventure Challenges Ltd. is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all participants undertaking adventure challenges.
All our challenges require some degree of strenuous exercise from participants and the level of difficulty for each challenge is outlined in the itineraries and on our website. Through medical screening, Global Adventure Challenges aims to ensure that all participants taking part in organised activities are of a satisfactory level of health and fitness to do so. Our policy applies to everyone and ensures that all participants are screened consistently regardless of disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity. The aim of screening is to ensure that participants are not unnecessarily put at risk because of underlying health issues and furthermore that Global adventure Challenges has, as so far as is reasonably practicable, operated with due diligence to prevent incidents from occurring. Therefore as part of the registration process we require you to complete a medical questionnaire in full. Your answers will be treated in the strictest confidence in accordance with the Data Protection Act and we ask that you disclose all your medical history. Depending on the answers given you may need to get your Doctor to sign and stamp your medical declaration. If you are 70 years of age or over at time of travel you must be authorised by your Doctor regardless of the answers given. Our policy is to encourage and support as many people as possible to take part in our challenges.
Please click on the link below to read our full policy statement.
Vaccinations
It is strongly recommended that you consult a medical professional to ensure your vaccinations are all up to date. You must discuss your own particular needs and contra-indications to vaccines or tablets with them. Always seek professional advice: Below is a link to the NHS website that gives more information on travel vaccinations:
Travel vaccinations - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
If you do receive vaccinations, it is advisable to carry a vaccination certificate with you. In addition, people on prescription medication should carry a note from their Doctor stating the treatment, drug name and dosage.
People on prescription medication should take time to prepare for their trip well in advance and should carry their medication in its original packaging, along with a copy of their prescription and a letter from the prescriber. More advice on carrying medication abroad can be found at the following link:
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-abroad
It is important to note that the legal status of your medication may be different outside the UK. Rules for the countries you are travelling to can be checked with the relevant foreign embassy in the UK. The link below gives further information on the rules for taking your medication abroad and also includes links for different embassies:
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/can-i-take-my-medicine-abroad/
Safety & Security
To ensure the safety and security of your group guides & crew will be in radio/phone contact with each other.
However, you should always be vigilant when staying in an unfamiliar environment and it is sensible to look after your personal possessions as you would do at home:
- Keep handbags closed and wallets in zipped pockets.
- Don’t leave valuable equipment such as cameras and mobile phones unattended on tables etc.
- Don’t wear expensive jewellery/watches or carry large amounts of cash.
- Use hotel safes and lock boxes where available for passports, tickets and other valuables when leaving your accommodation for the evening.
- Our recommendation is to leave valuables at home. If you don’t need it, don’t bring it!
Credit card for emergencies
In the unlikely event you have to curtail your challenge, it is expected that you will have to cover any additional costs such as extra accommodation, transfers etc. Often these additional costs incurred can be claimed back through your travel insurance on your return back home.
Snakes and bugs
There are likely to be snakes, spiders and other creepy crawlies that inhabit the areas we travel to, however it is unlikely that you will encounter any of them, especially if you follow a few simple rules:
- Never put your hands or feet anywhere you cannot see.
- Shake out all clothes and shoes before reaching into them.
- Never go barefooted.
- Use a torch at night so you can see where you are walking.
Your local guides will inform you of any other precautions that may be necessary.
As with most wildlife they would rather avoid an encounter with you as much as you would with them!