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Laos poisoning survivor calls for methanol awareness

London, UKGovernment

Calum Macdonald, a 23-year-old from Surrey, lost his eyesight due to a mass methanol poisoning incident while backpacking in Laos, which claimed the lives of six others, including lawyer Simone White. He met with bereaved families and travel industry representatives in parliament to advocate for increased awareness about the dangers of methanol poisoning. Campaigners are calling for the government and the travel sector to introduce educational materials, such as posters and in-flight announcements, to inform travelers. The Foreign Office is responding by collaborating with local authorities and over 150 travel industry partners to promote its Travel Aware campaign. Macdonald expressed that greater awareness could have saved him from losing his vision.

The government has also revised the educational curriculum to enhance personal safety knowledge related to alcohol consumption. Campaigner Amanda Dennis highlighted the preventable nature of these tragedies, advocating for education in schools. The Foreign Office released new guidance to help travelers identify signs of methanol poisoning.

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