When you’re leading a school ski trip, the last thing you expect is to become a hospital patient. But that’s exactly what happened to one of our clients during what should have been a week of fun on the slopes in the Alps.
Here’s how our professional medical assistance turned a potentially overwhelming situation into something manageable for our client.
Our client was an experienced teacher leading her first international school ski trip. Twenty excited students, perfect powder conditions, and everything going exactly to plan… until it wasn’t.
The group had been having a fantastic time exploring the French Alps, with students getting their first taste of European life, and of course, skiing. Our client’s employee had done this trip many times on UK slopes, but this was her debut leading an international group.
The call came through our emergency line on a crisp Tuesday morning. One of our client’s teachers had taken a fall during a day of fun in the snow – it seemed like the kind of tumble that happens thousands of times each day on ski slopes worldwide at first glance.
But this was different.
The searing pain and her inability to put weight on her leg told the story before any medical assessment: this was a serious fracture that needed immediate attention.
Here’s what made the situation even more challenging:
These were logistical nightmares that could have spiraled quickly without proper support.
We put together a comprehensive response right away, to address both her immediate medical needs and the broader situation.
Our first priority was getting her off the mountain safely and to appropriate medical care. But we knew that was just the beginning – she’d also need treatment to get her home safely while ensuring the student group remained properly supervised.
Immediate Mountain Rescue Coordination
Working with our established contacts in the French Alps, we arranged for her evacuation from the slopes to a trauma center equipped for orthopedic emergencies.
The mountain rescue teams in France are world-class, but getting from rescue to appropriate treatment requires finesse that most tourists simply can’t manage on their own – especially not while dealing with serious injuries.
Guarantee of Payment
We arranged a Guarantee of Payment with the treating hospital right away.
This gets rid of the common barrier that stops many international patients from receiving the treatment they’re after right away – the demand for substantial upfront deposits before any medical intervention begins.
Medical Operations Review
While our client was receiving treatment, our medical team was working behind the scenes to ensure everything was appropriately handled:
This kind of oversight provided an extra layer of safety without interfering with the medical team.
Continuity of Care Planning
It goes without saying, but a broken leg doesn’t heal in a few days. Our patient needed to know they were in good hands after their discharge from hospital, too.
We arranged for a specialist to follow-up with our client once she was back in the UK, aiming for a totally seamless transition from French emergency care to ongoing orthopedic management at home.
Since working with our client during their employee’s French Alps emergency, we delivered:
Immediate Relief from Financial Stress
No scrambling for deposits or worrying about whether the hospital would treat her – care started immediately with full financial backing.
Expert Medical Coordination
Treatment that met international standards with appropriate follow-up care planned before she left France.
Peace of Mind for Everyone
The school group continued their trip with proper supervision while she received excellent care, and her family back home stayed informed throughout.
Successful Recovery
She’s back to exercising and still leading school trips, with complete healing and no lasting complications from her injury.
Cost Management That Worked
All treatment costs stayed within expected ranges, with no surprise bills or coverage disputes.
Our partnership with this client demonstrates something important: there’s a huge difference between having travel insurance and having professional medical assistance.
Travel insurance might eventually reimburse costs, but professional medical assistance manages the entire situation – medical, financial, and logistical – so you can focus on getting better rather than becoming an expert in French and their healthcare systems.
For educators leading groups abroad, this level of support isn’t just helpful – it’s essential for maintaining duty of care when emergencies arise.
Our work with this client gave her confidence that if something goes wrong during international travel, expert help is just a phone call away.
The school has since led several more successful international trips, knowing that professional support is there if needed. More importantly, her school now understands the difference between basic coverage and comprehensive medical assistance for international programs.
Experiencing a medical emergency while traveling? Our 24/7 assistance line provides immediate expert support, from emergency coordination to ongoing care management, wherever you are in the world. Get in touch here.
