Singapore Airlines to distribute health kit onboard

As an added precaution, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has introduced a Health Kit that will be distributed to passengers on select flights.

The kit contains two surgical masks, three antiseptic wipes and a single use clinical thermometer. In addition, there will also be a set of contact slips in the pack that passengers can use to participate in the voluntary 'contact bowl' programme at participating establishments in Singapore. The contact slip allows the establishments to get in touch with the customer quickly in the remote event of an outbreak at their location.

The Health Kit will be handed to passengers on flights to and from Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei and Manila.

This will be over and above measures SIA has already in introduced at the airport and in the aircraft cabin to minimize the risk of SARS being carried on board and spread to others.

MEASURES TAKEN BY SINGAPORE AIRLINES TO COMBAT SARS

Check-in / Pre-boarding

· Ground staff at all SIA check-in counters and pre-boarding holding areas world-wide will keep close attention to the physical condition of passengers.

If the passenger is found to be unwell, he or she will be requested to consult a doctor. The passenger will not be allowed to board unless the doctor certifies him to be non-infectious and is fit to travel.

· In Singapore, all SIA passengers will also be asked to respond to a set of questions as stipulated by WHO at the check-in counter. This is in accordance with WHO guidelines issued at the end of March for all passengers travelling out of countries affected by SARS.

The questions are:

- Do you have any of the following symptoms - fever, dry cough or other flu-like symptoms?

- Have you been in contact with any persons suspected of SARS?

- Do you have reason to suspect that any of your family members have SARS or have come into contact with a person with SARS?

If the staff has any reason to believe that a passenger might be unwell, or be a risk to other passengers, the passenger will be directed to seek medical clearance before being allowed to board.

· Medical staff will check the temperature of all passengers and crew departing Singapore using non-intrusive thermal scanners at the airport's immigration points.

· Announcements will be made at all boarding gates worldwide (including Singapore) urging all passengers that may have symptoms associated with SARS and have been in contact with a SARS suspect to not board the aircraft, and to inform the staff immediately.

· All technical and cabin crew will undergo temperature checks prior to a departure.

Arrival

· Medical staff will check the temperatures of all passengers and crew on arrival as they disembark on arrival in Singapore. This includes passengers in transit.

If a passenger or crew is found to be unwell, he will moved to a special area for a more thorough check. If the check indicates that he may be symptomatic of SARS, he will be taken to a hospital immediately.

· All passengers arriving in Singapore are also required to fill in a health declaration card to indicate if:

- They have symptoms of SARS

- They or their family members had close contact with any persons who has been diagnosed with SARS

- They have travelled to a SARS affected area as identified by WHO in the last 14 days.

In-flight

· The air in the aircraft is changed 20-30 times an hour.

· SIA has in place, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters that trap dust, virus and bacteria and prevent them from re-circulating back to the cabin.

· Crew are thoroughly briefed to handle SARS cases

If a passenger is found to be unwell, they will page for a doctor on board for assistance. If there are no responses, the crew will use the tele-medical service to contact a doctor on the ground.

When assisting a passenger who appears to have SARS symptoms

- Crew will wear protective mask / gloves whenever they serve the passenger

- Affected passengers' meal tray/ utensils will be placed in a sealed plastic bag after use.

- One of the toilets will be set aside for the sole use of that passenger.

- If space is available, the passenger will be moved to another area.

- Passengers seated within three rows of the affected passenger will be provided protective masks on request.

- The airline will contact staff at the next port of call who will then alert the relevant authorities.

· Health kits will be distributed to all passengers on flights to and from SARS affected cities. Each kit contains two surgical masks, three antiseptic wipes, a single use clinical thermometer as well as a set of contact slips which passengers can use to participate in the voluntary 'contact bowl' programme at participating establishments in Singapore. The contact slip  allows the establishments to get in touch with the customer quickly in the remote event of an outbreak at their location.

The airline has also uplifted ample masks for crew on the above flights.

On all other flights, masks are available in a medical kit for use by a doctor or crew members when a passenger is taken ill.

· Where flight time exceeds 6 hours, crew members will check and record their temperature every 6 hours.

Disinfecting aircraft

· All aircraft travelling out of Singapore are disinfected with a cleaning solution that meets the WHO requirements.

· All aircraft arriving at Chinese points (Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai), Taipei and Manila, are also similarly cleaned with a disinfectant. The cleaning procedure is also repeated at their next point of arrival.