Message from our Medics

Dear POD Family

With POD being a remote and untouched part of the wilderness the location brings with it its own unique challenges when it comes to the treatment of medical incidents.

Although Pod October will have Intermediate Level medical staff as well as a basic medical tent on site where you can get assistance for Minor illness or injuries.it is important to note the processes and limitations involved in providing medical care in such remote locations.

We would like to be clear that treatment for all incidents requiring Advanced Life Support intervention or transport to hospital is not available on site and patients with ailments such as continuous seizures, broken bones, Breathing Difficulty, Heart Attacks and Falls from height, will be referred to the closest hospital is in Ceres which is at least 2.5 hours away by car.

We do not have an ambulance on site. POD has dedicated a 4×4 vehicle to the medical staff should there be the need to assist someone in getting to hospital but it is important to know that this is not an ambulance and that an Ambulance would also have to come from Ceres to POD to assist which can take a very long time.

Should you have any medical conditions that put you at risk we ask that you bring along your own medication and inform the Medics (Spot camp 2B) of your condition on arrival.

If you have a potentially life threatening, pre-existing medical condition . We recommend you do not come to our party, we will refund your ticket contribution. Please contact our medic at jaco@happypanda.co.za prior to arrival if you have any concerns in this regards.

Helicopter rescue will alway be considered but is based on approval from the Western Cape Department Of Health Duty Medic and is never guaranteed. Should approval be granted the Helicopter will be dispatched from Cape Town International airport with a similar flight time of 2 hours to site further increasing the risk.

Although the medical team will do our best to provide the optimal care to every patient we encourage participants to be conscious of the fact that they are ultimately responsible for themselves and that we are in a remote location with limited help available on site. POD as well as the medical service provider does not take responsibility for any injury, illness or loss of life sustained or made worse by these delays.

We ask that you keep yourself as well as your friends and family safe to try and minimise the risk of serious injury, illness or loss of life.

Kind regards
Jaco