July 5, 2011 The Leonard family of California has been prepping for months for their voyage of a lifetime – three years traveling to far-off adventures aboard a sailboat – and now they’ll have the vital safety training and supplies they need thanks to MedAire (www.medaire.com), the world’s leading provider of integrated crew medical training, onboard medical equipment and 24/7 access to maritime medical and security information and advice.

Scott and Mandi Leonard, along with sons Griffin, Jake and Luke, will set sail July 9. They’ve given up their 3,200 square foot house in southern California and have been downsizing to be able to live, work and play on a 50-foot Catamaran for three years while they sail and visit a myriad of destinations in the Caribbean and Pacific. Scott has been transitioning operations at his business so he can work remotely from the high seas and Mandi has been learning how to be a home-school teacher for the boys.

Now, as launch date approaches, it’s time to make sure the family is as prepared as possible for any emergencies that may arise at sea. Enter MedAire, who has agreed to partner with the family to make sure mom, dad and the kids all are prepared for the worst and know how to act in a crisis. The family will learn about a wide variety of subjects, ranging from travel health and maritime medical emergencies to the use of oxygen and medical kits and CPR, wound management and more – even helicopter evacuations.

“We’re excited for the amazing adventure this family is embarking on,” said MedAire CEO Grant Jeffery. “We’re also proud of them for making sure to address the serious side of what they’re planning and not just the romance or the fun. The sea can be a dangerous place and we’re glad to help them live up to the responsibility of what they’re doing by educating them on the best methods to stay safe and to think on their feet should something go awry.”

Since 1985, MedAire, Inc. has been assisting the passengers and crew of hundreds of business jets, commercial airlines, yachts and commercial ships through its expert medical education training courses, medical equipment offerings and the medical and logistical expertise of its 24/7 MedLink Global Response Centers.  Credited with establishing the world’s first global emergency response center dedicated to providing immediate, real-time medical assistance to people in remote locations, MedAire’s integrated “Three E” system - education, equipment and expertise – today serves more than 2,000 clients worldwide.

Dad Scott Leonard said he is grateful MedAire’s expertise and assistance in preparing the whole family for emergencies. “I may be captaining this voyage but I’m not invincible – everyone on board needs to be prepared to handle themselves in an emergency. We’re doing everything possible to make sure we plan and prepare to make this the safest and most rewarding experience possible and that means each of us, even the kids, learning how to be the safest crew possible.”

For Mom Mandi, the safety instruction from MedAire also fit nicely into her efforts as the family’s new educator-in-chief. “I’m excited to help the boys with their school subjects, but the MedAire lessons are just as vital. There’s nothing more important than the health and safety of your family and our boys will carry these lessons and values with them the rest of their lives.”

The Leonards will sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with their first stop in the Bahamas From there they will sail through the Caribbean, to the Panama Canal, to the Galapagos Islands, down to Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, and Micronesia.

The family will chronicle its adventures on their Web site, www.themobileceosetssail.com, as well as on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sailingontlb and the family blog www.threelittlebirds.org.   Scott also will reference the voyage in a book he’s writing for fellow entrepreneurs, “Intentionally Irrelevant,” a how-to guide for business owners who want to reclaim the work-life-balance that often eludes them once their companies become successful.

ABOUT MEDAIRE
While in the air, at sea or traveling for business or pleasure, airplane and yacht owners, passengers and crew rely on MedAire’s 24/7 Global Response Centers for remote medical care and security advice and emergency assistance. For 25 years, aviation and maritime crewmembers have gained confidence and preparedness skills by taking a variety of MedAire’s medical courses, which teach basic and advanced life support skills. Students also learn crew resource management skills, how to contact MedAire’s MedLink service for advice, and to use MedAire’s medical equipment designed for remote environments. MedAire, an International SOS company, is the world’s largest integrated aviation and maritime provider of medical, travel and security services. Visit MedAire.com and follow @MedAire_Yachts on Twitter.