Appendix       Preventing Illness and Accidents

The higher and the more remote your trek, the better equipment and shelter you will have to provide, especially in winter.

IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) recommends the following guidelines:

•  That adequate clothing is available for protection in bad weather and at altitude. This should include adequate footwear, hat, gloves, windproof jacket and trousers, sunglasses, and access to a blanket and pad above the snowline.

•  That leaders and trekkers provide the same standard of medical care for porters, as they would expect for themselves.

•  That porters not be paid off because of illness without the leader or trekkers being informed.

•  That sick porters never be sent down alone, but with someone who speaks their language and understands the problem.

•  That sufficient fund is provided to sick porters to cover the cost of their land rescue and treatment.

And if you are going to a remote area, select strong and experienced porters!

Nepali law states that all trekking porters should have provision for security, personal protective equipment including shoes, clothes, etc., depending on the weather, and that the management (whoever employs them) is responsible for rescue of these persons when required.

What You Can Do

If you employ a porter yourself, follow the guidelines and treat your porter, as you would like to be treated yourself.

If you go trekking with a trekking company, ask the management how they are taking care of their porters, and how they are education leaders and sirdars on this issue.

Finally, report any incidents of neglect or abuse that you witness while trekking. If possible, take note of the date, place, time and group involved and what exactly happened. These reports can be sent by email or mail to one of the addresses below.

•  IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) PO Box 53, Repton, NSW 2454 Australia

info@ippg.net

•  KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project) PO Box 9178, Jyatha, Thamel, Kathmandu Ph: 259275/259567 email: tour@keep.wlink.com.np

•  HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) PO Box 4944, Tridevi Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu

Ph: 262746 hra@aidpost.mos.com.np