This is required of all Expeditie Robinson participants

As soon as a new season of Expeditie Robinson starts, there are always a few participants I worry about regarding their physical condition. This can make me quite tense during the challenges, which can be quite tough, because what if someone suddenly collapses? Fortunately, thanks to Sergio's panic attack, we now know that there is always a medical team on standby to intervene. But how do they know for sure if someone is fit or not? Because that varies quite a bit from person to person. For example, one person may already have a higher blood pressure than another, and there are about 100 other things you can think of in which people physically differ from each other.

So I found out what is actually expected of the participants of Expeditie Robinson. Because we can assume that the production of the program is also not waiting for medical emergencies that could have been prevented. It starts with a questionnaire that must be filled out. This way, they know exactly what to look for, in case someone already has injuries, for example. Then there are the physical tests: they are measured, weighed, and get an eye check (even for color blindness, I think that is something you would have noticed by now if that were the case).

Then the rest of the body is checked. Because in the event of a medical emergency, the reflexes are almost always checked first. To ensure that they work beforehand, the old-fashioned hammer comes into play on the knees, along with some other reflex checks. Life on an island without distractions can certainly be a shock, coming from daily life where we are constantly stimulated from all sides. A chat with the psychologist before you leave is also quite nice, then everyone knows at least that you probably won't suddenly go completely crazy on day 3. Although you can never be sure, of course, because Billy's jokes are already putting everyone to the test.

In addition to all these required tests, most participants voluntarily choose to take a survival course as well. At least someone can make fire on that island. What reassures me the most is that a fitness test is also conducted. So I can now watch the challenges with peace of mind, without the fear that someone suddenly collapses.

Image: Jasper Suyk