Emergency Response Procedure Of Oxalis Adventure

Accidents and Injuries

Although safety measures have been implemented and visitors have been provided with all necessary protective equipment, accidents may still occasionally occur due to external factors or guest inadvertence. Below are some potential accident scenarios and the corresponding emergency response procedures applied on Oxalis Adventure tours:

• Minor cuts, scratches, or bleeding: The guide will put on medical gloves, clean and disinfect the wound with an antiseptic solution, then dress it using the first-aid kit carried by the team. The guide will assess the injury and determine whether the guest can safely continue the tour or should return.
• Broken limbs, serious injuries, or severe illness: In the event of a serious accident or illness, the guide will immediately assess the situation and provide first aid following the DR C ABCDE protocol:
  • D (Danger): Check the surrounding area for safety to eliminate hazards (falling rocks, landslides, flash floods).
  • R (Response): Check the casualty's responsiveness and alertness. Call out to gather on-site support, and immediately dispatch a team member to contact the Operations Management Board/Safety Department to activate the emergency rescue procedure.
  • C (Catastrophic Bleeding): Check and control catastrophic bleeding immediately, performed even prior to checking the airway.
  • A (Airway): Check and open the airway.
  • B (Breathing): Assess respiration; if absent or abnormal, initiate CPR immediately.
  • C (Circulation): Check pulse, skin color, signs of shock, and ongoing bleeding.
  • D (Disability): Assess level of consciousness, motor function, and limb sensation.
  • E (Exposure): Expose and examine the entire body to detect hidden injuries, then keep the patient warm immediately, insulating the casualty from cold, damp stone surfaces.

  Immediately after receiving the information, the Operations Management Board/Safety Department will immediately:

  1. Contact the nearest emergency medical services and arrange for medical personnel and an ambulance to provide assistance.
  2. Deploy the company’s rescue team, including safety specialists and rescue equipment, to the scene.
  3. Coordinate with the nearest medical facility to support the guest and arrange the necessary medical procedures.
  4. Contact the local People’s Committee and Forest Management Board (forest owner) to report the incident and request support.
• Drowning: Oxalis Adventure provides all guests and staff with specialized life jackets designed to support a load of over 100 kg, ensuring the wearer always floats stably while swimming. Guides and Safety Assistants are always present and accompany guests throughout the swimming sections. Although the risk of drowning is extremely low, should an incident occur, the guide will provide first aid following the drowning response procedures trained by cave specialists and the Red Cross. At the same time, the guide will immediately contact the Operations Department/Safety Department to activate the emergency rescue procedure.
• Guests become lost: Oxalis Adventure’s expedition tours take guests into primary forest and remote cave systems. Therefore, preventing guests from becoming lost is a key part of the company’s safety planning. Measures include:
  • a) Pre-tour safety briefing: Guests receive a detailed briefing on expedition safety rules, the route, and what to do if they become separated from the group.
  • b) Continuous group supervision: Guides and Safety Assistants accompany the group throughout the tour. Clear roles are assigned, with designated lead and tail guides to maintain the group and regularly count guests at key points along the route.
  • c) Food and water supplies: Each guest is provided with sufficient drinking water and snacks to carry, helping them stay hydrated, nourished, and in good condition should they become separated from the group.

  In the unlikely event that a guest becomes lost, according to the emergency response procedure for lost guests on Oxalis tours, the guide or Safety Assistant will notify the rescue team to implement the search plan, carrying first-aid equipment and emergency food supplies to support the guest.

• Fatal accident: While every effort is made to prevent such an incident, Oxalis Adventure has an established emergency procedure in the event of a fatal accident during a tour:
  1. Preserve the scene.
  2. Contact the company’s Operations Management Board/Safety Department. The Operations Management Board/Safety Department will then carry out the following steps:
     • Contact the commune police, Forest Management Board (forest owner), and Provincial People’s Committee.
     • Report the incident to the Provincial People’s Committee, commune People’s Committee, and the forest owner where the incident occurred.
     • Report the incident to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province.
     • Contact the Department of Foreign Affairs to handle the incident in cases involving international guests.

According to the emergency response plan, the tour guide must prepare a detailed report on the causes of the accident for the company's Operations Management Board/Safety Department, and fully cooperate with the competent authorities and the company's leadership during the investigation process.

Annually training course for Guides and guide assistant by the safety cave expert.

Insect and Snake Bites

During field surveys and consultations with local communities, Oxalis Adventure identified several potentially harmful species in the area, including scorpions, centipedes, and horned pit vipers. While these bites and stings are not typically fatal on the spot, prompt and effective first aid can help reduce the risk of serious complications.

The following steps should be taken in the event of a venomous snake bite or insect bite:

Snake bite:

• Stay calm and reassure the injured guest.
• Move the injured guest and the rest of the group to a safe area.
• Have the injured guest lie down and minimize movement to the utmost.
• Remove jewelry, tight footwear, or other restrictive items from the affected limb.
• Put on gloves, gently wash the bite wound, then apply a clean gauze pad and secure it.
• Apply an elastic pressure bandage along the entire affected limb. Start at the fingers or toes and work upward toward the body. The bandage should be firm, similar to a bandage used for an ankle sprain.
• Immobilize the limb in a natural position, always keeping the bite location lower than the heart.
• Do not allow the patient to walk on their own under any circumstances; evacuate the casualty using a stretcher.
• Only attempt to identify the snake species if it is truly safe (never attempt to catch or search for the snake).
• Simultaneously with first aid, immediately contact the Operations Management Board/Safety Department. These departments will promptly execute the following:
  • Contact the nearest emergency medical services and arrange for specialized emergency medical transport and doctors to provide assistance.
  • Deploy a rescue team, including safety and rescue specialists and the company's rescue team, to provide on-site support.
  • Contact the nearest medical facilities to assist with the injured guest’s medical care and procedures.
  • Contact the commune People’s Committee/forest owner to report and request support.
• Prepare an incident report.

Insect bites:

• Move the victim (or oneself) away from the insect area.
• Wash the affected area with soap and clean water (if possible), then disinfect with Povidone-Iodine solution.
• A suitable anti-itch/anti-inflammatory cream may be applied (e.g., Gensonmax or similar topical ointment) and antihistamines (such as Chlorpheniramine) may be taken to alleviate mild allergic reactions.
• Keep the area clean and dry, applying a light gauze dressing if necessary.
• Closely monitor for systemic allergic reactions (shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, widespread rash) for timely emergency intervention.
• Check the bite area daily for early signs of infection.
• Prevention: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, closed-toe shoes, and long, thick socks.

Food Poisoning and Allergic Reactions

Food safety and hygiene are given the highest priority throughout Oxalis Adventure tours. Food is stored and prepared according to food safety standards, and all food is thoroughly cooked before serving. Drinking water must be pumped through filtration equipment before drinking; guests are strictly advised never to drink untreated stream water or stagnant water in caves.

Oxalis Adventure carefully reviews the medical questionnaire completed by each guest, including any known food allergies, to help identify risks and plan appropriate preventive measures. Despite these precautions, food poisoning or an allergic reaction may still occur. In such cases, the guide will follow the emergency response procedures below:

• Assess the symptoms and condition of the affected guest.
• Administer initial first aid, having the patient sip small amounts of water and oral rehydration solution.
• Temporarily maintain physical distance from other healthy members to prevent potential transmission (when the cause of vomiting or diarrhea is not yet determined).
• Contact the Operations Director / Deputy Operations Director to dispatch a rescue team to evacuate the casualty.
• Contact the nearest hospital for emergency medical care.
• Preserve food samples for further investigation into the possible cause.
• Prepare a detailed incident report outlining the incident.

Sudden Storms and Flash Floods

Tours are only operated when weather forecasts indicate safe conditions and water levels are no more than 1 metre above normal. However, sudden changes in weather may still cause unexpected flooding. In such cases, guides will follow Oxalis Adventure’s emergency response procedures for storms and flash floods:

1. Never navigate through water caves; divert immediately to pre-established mountainside/flood-bypass trails.
2. Inspect all specialized equipment (floating ropes, throw lines); require all guests and staff to wear life jackets at all times and strictly adhere to trained techniques when using boats or crossing rivers, streams, and waterfalls.
3. Move guests to a safe, pre-surveyed elevated location. Based on actual terrain, coordinate appropriate vehicles and support forces to evacuate guests from the forest.
4. The guide or Safety Assistant will report field conditions to the company's Operations Department/Safety Department. The Safety Department will evaluate the severity of the flood to proactively deploy the specialized Rescue Team to provide on-site support and deliver additional food supplies (Note: All Oxalis campsites are fully stocked with backup food supplies reserved for storms and floods).

Training on safe stream crossing during the rainy season.

Incident Reporting Procedure

When an accident or incident involving a guest or any member of the group occurs, the guide is responsible for preparing a detailed report and submitting it to the Safety Department and Company Leadership to serve as the basis for reporting to the competent authorities.

• Non-serious incidents and near misses: The guide prepares a field report and presents it to the Safety Department. The Safety Committee will conduct a root cause analysis, propose corrective and preventive measures, and update the Emergency Response Procedures for Oxalis Adventure tours to prevent recurring risks.
• Serious incidents: After prioritizing emergency on-site handling according to the established protocol, the tour guide is responsible for preparing and submitting a detailed report to the company's Safety Department. This report serves as the foundation for the company to fulfill its reporting obligations to competent state management agencies.
• Reporting process: According to the emergency response plan, when an incident occurs, the guide is responsible for reporting promptly to the Safety Department and Company Leadership; based on that, the company will prepare and submit an official report to relevant state authorities at both the commune and provincial levels.

Oxalis Adventure’s Emergency Response Procedures are issued as part of its safety, first-aid, rescue, and emergency response framework. The procedures are reviewed and updated annually or supplemented immediately upon the occurrence of an actual incident in order to promptly adjust and refine response protocols.

The Oxalis Experience.

FAQs

• Does Oxalis have an emergency response process?

  Yes, Oxalis have an emergency response process. Oxalis Adventure has an established "Emergency Response Protocol" that includes on-site first aid and rescue if an accident occurs during trekking or cave exploration.
  In case of lightning and thunder issue, you can read more here about emergency response measures in the event of a storm.

• How will Oxalis Adventure respond if someone is drowning?

  BASIC LIFE SUPPORT and CPR. These are essential skills to have in order to help a victim of DROWNING.
  In simple terms, DROWNING means death caused by being under water, and not being able to breathe.
  - Use your knowledge of DRS ABC.
  - Take the victim to the nearest medical facility as quickly as possible. Do not delay.
  Even if, after CPR, the victim looks like they have recovered, they still need to get to a medical facility urgently. Constantly check how they are on the journey to the hospital. Be prepared to start, and continue CPR at any time.

• What is the first treatment for a snake bite of Oxalis Adventure?

  The first treatment for a snake bite of Oxalis Adventure is as follow:
  • Call the Office and get emergency medical help as soon as possible.
  • Note the time of the bite.
  • Keep the casualty calm and still as movement can cause the venom to travel more quickly through the body.
  • Position the casualty so that the bite is at or below the level of the heart.
  • Remove constricting clothing and jewelry from the surrounding area of the bite in case of swelling.
  • Remove shoes if the leg or foot is bitten.
  • Do not allow the casualty to walk, transport by vehicle.
  • Clean the wound, but do not flush with water.
  • Cover with a clean, dry dressing.
  • Take a picture of the snake if possible, do not handle or kill it.