More Victims Of China Bus Crash Return Home

More Victims Of China Bus Crash Return Home

March 09, 2006

    BEIJING, March 9 /Xinhua-Prnewswire/ -- Six victims of
the Hezhou bus crash returned home to Kuala Lumpur today,
escorted by medical teams from International SOS.

    The six victims were admitted to Guilin Hospital for
observation overnight, after they were transferred from
Hezhou in a coach arranged by International SOS yesterday. 
They departed Guilin this morning for Kuala Lumpur at 10 am
local time.

    Another six victims will be transferred by road
ambulance from Hezhou to Guilin today, escorted by three
International SOS doctors and three nurses. They will
remain in Guilin overnight for medical assessments before
they return home.

    International SOS has also evacuated a 64-year-old male
Malaysian who suffered serious injuries on an air ambulance
back to Kuala Lumpur yesterday. 

    International SOS is working closely with American Home
Assurance Company, Malaysia; American International
Assurance Company, Limited (Malaysia); and Aviva Insurance
Berhad to provide assistance to the victims of the bus
crash. International SOS is the official assistance
provider of these insurance companies.

    Upon receiving the call for help on 7 March 2006,
International SOS immediately sent medical and logistics
personnel to Hezhou.  An International SOS local
correspondent arrived in Hezhou within hours of the
accident. Working with the local treating doctors and
hospitals, the local correspondent ascertained the location
of each victim and obtained preliminary medical reports. 

    First Response Medical teams from Shanghai and Beijing,
comprising two doctors and two nurses arrived in Hezhou on 8
March 2006.  Their immediate task was to assess the medical
conditions of the victims and develop a plan of action for
the victims to receive appropriate medical care.  At the
same time, a logistics team comprising a Network Manager
from Malaysia and a Chinese-speaking co-ordinator from
Shanghai were on the ground as well, to assist victims and
their families. 

    A third medical team, comprising two nurses and two
doctors from Malaysia and a nurse from Hong Kong are also
in Hezhou, with additional medical equipment to support the
rescue effort.

    About International SOS

    International SOS has global operations in over 60
countries, spanning five continents.  The company provides
clients with a comprehensive portfolio of medical and
security services to ensure that people travelling and
working internationally have access to immediate help. 
International SOS' services range from 24-hour medical
advice, referrals to qualified doctors and hospitals as
well as provision of emergency medical and security
evacuations when there is a critical illness, accident or
civil unrest.  Last year, the company handled over 370,000
assistance cases, including more than 10,000 medical
evacuations.

    For more information, please contact:

     Grace Ngoh
     International SOS Singapore
     Tel:     [phone]
     Mobile:  [phone]
     Email:   [e-mail]

     Jingbin He
     International SOS Beijing
     Office:  [phone] x293
     Fax:     [phone]
     Mobile:  [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  International SOS