Safety on the Mountain: The Cornerstone of Our Kilimanjaro Expeditions
Embarking on a journey up Mount Kilimanjaro, adventurers seek assurance of their safety. Since 1984, we've navigated tens of thousands of climbers up this iconic peak, consistently making safety our top priority. The unpredictability of high altitudes necessitates that our guides regularly refine their skills, blending hands-on Kilimanjaro expertise with theoretical acumen. Despite our proficiency, climbers' well-being always remains paramount. Successfully reaching the summit is a coveted achievement, but ensuring a safe descent is equally, if not more, vital.
What We Include to Ensure Your Safety on Kilimanjaro: Comprehensive Precautions
Our Kilimanjaro safety protocols are rigorously developed and strictly enforced. We handpick seasoned, certified guides for our treks. These professionals are regularly updated with the latest safety trainings.
Each expedition on Kilimanjaro will include:
- 1 Emergency oxygen cylinder for every 5 hikers in a group is a staple on every expedition, ensuring immediate accessibility during emergencies.
- For accurate and timely health assessments, we use European medical-grade pulse oximeters to monitor your blood oxygen and heart rate.
- A robust first aid kit accompanies every group, equipped to handle minor injuries and health concerns.
- Our guides are equipped with mobile devices, ensuring continuous connectivity for assistance and emergencies.
Primary Evacuation Options on Kilimanjaro: Prioritizing Health in Emergencies
In an emergency, our guides will consider:
1. The ideal response, whenever feasible, is walking descent either assisted or non assisted.
2. If a climber is unable to walk, stretcher evacuation becomes the primary approach.
3. Helicopter evacuation is considered based on various factors like availability and proximity to helipads. Although helicopter evacuation can be unreliable on Mount Kilimanjaro you should have appropriate climb insurance to cover for this eventuality.
4. Our base office remains in constant communication, staying informed of all developments when it is safe for our guides to update us.
5. Climbers play an active role in their evacuation decision, but our guides' expert recommendations are paramount.
The best way to recover from high altitude symptoms is descending to a lower altitude where the oxygen is rich, and your body can recover better. Our primary goal is always (and will always be) for you to descend by walking down yourself for the safest and best experience!
Twice Daily Health Checks: Keeping a Pulse on Your Well-being
To preemptively address altitude-related issues and have industry leading Kilimanjaro safety protocols, we conduct twice daily health checks. This rigorous regime involves:
- Monitoring symptoms indicative of altitude sickness.
- Tracking oxygen levels and heart rates using our state-of-the-art pulse oximeters.
- Recording these assessments on individual summary sheets. A specialized scoring system aids in predicting Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) levels and enables proactive interventions.
No matter how small, it is highly recommended for all participants to communicate any discomfort or altitude sickness symptom to your guide, your health check (morning and evenings) is an ideal time to do this however severe symptoms should be reported immediately.
