SAM Travel Peru takes seriously the safety and health of our clients. Professionals in First Aid, Altitude Sickness, and CPR train and certify all of our guides in emergency first aid and CPR. It is a requirement for all of our guides to take First Aid, Altitude Sickness and CPR training.
On all of our trekking tours, we carry rescue oxygen for altitude sickness and first aid kits created by our medical staff for high altitude trekking; and on alternative trekking tours, we also have rescue horses. Every guide carries a satellite phone and emergency radio transmitters to be able to communicate with the home office or emergency services. If one of our clients gets ill, has altitude sickness, or gets hurt in an accident, we are prepared to take care of them and evacuate them if needed.
It is important that all of our guides are informed before your trek or tour or at least at your briefing of any medical issues, allergies, or medicines you are taking in case of an emergency.
Our Guides Have Been Trained On:
- How to recognize and assist a client with altitude sickness
- How to evaluate the extent of the injuries in an accident and how to take measure to evacuate the client if needed
- How to use and apply CPR correctly in the event that someone stops breathing or has a heart attack etc.
- When and how to use the oxygen tank properly
- The proper procedures for evacuating a client on different types of treks, if required
Emergency Preparedness, Safety on the Trail, and Evacuation Plans
Wilderness Trekking
Wilderness trekking and camping are a great experience in the Andes Mountains. Our guides are trained and have years of experience in the Andes and know how to anticipate any potential problems that might occur. Safety first is the prime goal of SAM Travel Peru.
Trail Safety
Alertness and care in all that is done on the trail, and performing within the group’s known capabilities, are among the best preventive measures that our guides use to prevent accidents. Most common outdoor injuries are blisters, cuts, sprains, strains, bruises, and fractures. Our guides are alert and teach our trekkers of the potential dangers of the Andean Mountain trail environment, including rock or mud slides, dangerous cliffs, or the edge of trails, and how to be safe walking on the Inca Trail or other Alternative Treks. They instruct those in their groups to stay together on well-established trails, avoid loose rocks (especially on descent) and avoid dangerous ledges, cliffs, and areas where a fall might occur.
Safety in Lightning Storms
Our guides are aware of the dangers of lighting. They instruct our trekkers on how to be safe in the Andean Mountains in the event of lighting storms.
Pure Drinking Water
A constant supply of pure drinking water is essential. SAM Travel Peru makes sure our guides and chef has access to drinking water for our trekkers and for cooking. All water is filtered, boiled by our chef and cooled daily to provide our trekkers with adequate purified drinking water. Your water bottles will be filled after each meal, three times per day.
Wilderness Evacuation Plan and First Aid
Our guides are certified in First Aid, CPR, and trained on when and how to use the emergency oxygen tank and what measures to take to evacuate ill or hurt trekkers. They have an evacuation plan ready for each trail, the Inca Trail and Alternative Trails. On Alternative Trails there is an emergency horse that can be used by those that need it if tired or have a bit of altitude sickness and for evacuation of persons to the nearest road. The guides also carry satellite phones and emergency radio transmitters to be able to communicate with the home office and with emergency services.