HEALTH AND SAFETY - HIDDEN HORIZONS MX LIMITED

Volunteering abroad should be exciting and educational and carry as little risk as possible. At Hidden Horizons MX we are committed to providing extensive support throughout the entire application process while complying with safety standards to guarantee a successful trip for international volunteers in a remote and challenging environment.

Hidden Horizons MX Coordinator Support

As soon as you have booked one of our programs, a Hidden Horizons MX coordinator will guide you through the pre-departure journey, welcome you in Mexico and accompany you when you leave. They will make sure you have all the necessary information required for your trip. They will guide you through a personalised packing list specific to your chosen location and program, and facilitate any necessary cultural orientation and program-specific training.

We also set up a WhatsApp group to effectively manage participant arrivals. This means you will be connected with local Hidden Horizons MX staff from the moment you start your journey to the moment you are picked up at the airport by a HHMX staff member.
Once you return from your programs, you will be asked to provide feedback on your experience with Hidden Horizons MX and you will be asked to write a review to be published on the HHMX website.

Safety

All staff employed in all our locations are our own. Each is recruited, vetted, and trained by us. In many cases, they are people from the local community who have grown up in the area and have worked in the industry for many years. In other cases, they are trained biologists and tour operators who have years of experience in the region. Ensuring that all staff are our own enables us to supervise a safe and secure environment for participants at all times. This includes transport to and from the airport, between project sites and the Hidden Horizons MX base, and during any additional trips. When other transport is necessary, staff travel with

the participants to and from their destination. Staff members live in the same accommodation – or very nearby – as participants, and are present for just about every meal.
There is always a minimum number of staff available to ensure safe and even distributions between participants. There will always be a sufficient number of staff members to safely manage any situation.

Personal Belongings

If you are participating on a short-stay program with HHMX, we recommend you do not bring any unnecessary electronic items that you will not use during your participation (Computer, hard drives etc). This is due to the fact that the most used accommodation on our programs is camping and we cannot take responsibility for any damage that may occur due to the rapid change in the natural elements (rain, wind, sand, humidity etc).

However, the valuables that you do chose to bring will be safe within your accommodation on the program site, and there is usually always a staff member on premises at all times.

Safety Briefings

On arrival, all participants will complete a health and safety briefing which will include general general instructions on respectful and careful travel, cultural awareness, regional safety issues, personal protective equipment, and regional emergency services.

A fully stocked medical kit is available on each base. It is checked and restocked after any incident or every three months. An assigned driver, who is licensed, and familiar with the area is also available 24/7 to provide a lift to a medical facility if needed.

Health

Participants have access to local medical professionals such as doctors, medics, and counsellors.

You will be asked to disclose all pre-existing medical conditions and dietary requirements before arrival. This is the only way for us to support the advice of licensed medical professionals and ensure that participants aren’t exposed to any foods, environments, or other circumstances that could potentially cause them physical or mental harm.

Health insurance

All participants are required to obtain their own medical and travel insurance prior to departure. We require that all our participants submit proof of international health insurance, or Hidden Horizons MX reserves the right to refuse participation.

Risk Mitigation

Hidden Horizons MX monitors governmental foreign policy sites like the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Mexican Government offices to ensure that we are aware of any potential issues or threats.
Before we include any accommodation, tour operation, or local partner on our program itinerary, we conduct an in-depth risk audit of their services in collaboration with members of our senior management team. Only once a partner is fully vetted do we agree to make this service available to potential program participants.

Emergency action plans

All major foreseeable incidents have a corresponding Hidden Horizons MX emergency action plan. The HHMX base is required to have a formal crisis management plan in place. It requires that HHMX staff members take control of the situation, provide security, start delivering emergency care and contact senior management in the event of an emergency. For any plan to operate effectively, communication channels need to be set up and maintained. All on-the- ground staff and participants are empowered to contact senior staff members and local support staff in case of emergency.