Participants
Twelve teenagers between the ages of 14 and 20 from various paediatrics oncology centres across Canada.
Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Chicoutimi (Quebec)
Sainte-Justine Hospital (Quebec)
Montreal Children’s Hospital (Quebec)
Centre universitaire de santé de l’Estrie (Quebec)
IWK Health Center (Maritimes)
Centre hospitalier de l’Université Laval (CHUL) (Quebec)
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) (Ontario)
The Hospital for Sick Children Toronto (Ontario)
BC Children's Hospital (Colombie-Britannique)
Calgary Health Region (Alberta)
Guides
2 or 3 guides from the Foundation,
2 or 3 guides from the outdoors adventure tourism organisation associated with our Foundation for a particular expedition.
A medical team
A physician
A nurse
A special education teacher or social worker
Sub-contracting
The On the Tip of the Toes Foundation was able to develop unequalled expertise in the organisation of therapeutic adventure expeditions. To support this unique experience in Canada, the Foundation always collaborates with sub-contractors specialised in logistics and supervision of trips. The group of adults thus assembled to supervise the teenagers always respects Canadian standards regarding this type of expedition.
The role of the medical committee… choosing the teenagers
Before each expedition, a medical committee reviews the conditions of the trip, evaluates security measures, and establishes the criteria for the selection of participants according to the difficulty level of the challenges to be met during the expedition. The committee then sends its recommendations to the person responsible in each of the oncology centres across the country, who then starts the selection process. At this point, the doctor in charge for each of the candidates fills out a medical questionnaire and contacts the doctor or nurse affiliated with the Foundation to discuss the particular conditions needed for the youth to best benefit from therapeutic adventure.
The security
The emergency plan
The Foundation sets up an emergency plan for each expedition, which includes all contact information for each hospital in the vicinity of the activities. The time required for the potential evacuation of an injured person is precisely evaluated and the trip is planned in such a manner that it is always possible to react quickly and properly to any emergency. Besides a qualified medical unit on the team, first-aid equipment is on hand (as designed by the medical staff and medical committee) and includes medication for any type of sickness or injury. Finally, a mobile satellite phone is the primary means of communication. The Foundation is a member of Air Médic (air ambulance); if it becomes necessary to evacuate someone, fast and efficient transportation is at hand.
Questions about expeditions
Before departure, the Foundation organises a meeting with parents, guides, and the medical team, to study every detail of the expedition. This makes it much easier to answer parents’ questions and anxieties.
Insurance
During the entire expedition, the youth are covered by travel insurance.
WINTER 2010 – Day 7
Another beautiful day!
We spent out last day together at Village Vacances Val-Cartier.
Once on site, I realized my body was not up to this. ...
