US Coast Guard conducts emergency medical evacuation from Koningsdam on Feb 3, 2018

[sail7seas]

Very interesting! Hope the passenger will be OK.

 

I recall an interesting thread here a couple or so years ago about a CC'er who had a heart attack on a cruise and was medivac-ed off. I think he was on Princess.

 

 

 

This is why trip insurance is so important!!!

 

The insurance, presumably, would be utilized for medical treatrment once on land.

 

 

 

 

U.S. Coast Guard does not charge the patient for a medical evac.

[Straitlover]

 

U.S. Coast Guard does not charge the patient for a medical evac.

 

Do they (USCG) handle the evacs if you're in another country, say Aruba, Grand Cayman, etc? When I say that's why ins is important, I mean in general, not the particular case here.

[cccole]

It is my understanding that the U.S. Coast Guard does not bill for this service, however another country's Coast Guard may do so. Also, the U.S. Coast Guard evac does not cover the cost if you need to be evac'd to a facility which can take care of your medical emergency. This indicates to me that the U.S. Coast Guard evacs you to the closest facility on land, but this may not be the best facility for you. So possibly check out what the arrangements are with the countries you are visiting if not serviced by the U.S. Coast Guard. Cherie

[sail7seas]

It is my understanding that the U.S. Coast Guard does not bill for this service, however another country's Coast Guard may do so. Also, the U.S. Coast Guard evac does not cover the cost if you need to be evac'd to a facility which can take care of your medical emergency. This indicates to me that the U.S. Coast Guard evacs you to the closest facility on land, but this may not be the best facility for you. So possibly check out what the arrangements are with the countries you are visiting if not serviced by the U.S. Coast Guard. Cherie

 

 

I don't know anyone who, before a cruise expects and plans in advance for a medical emerg ency , that would require medical e-vac.:eek: Seriously, if someone is visiting 9 port.s Yikes!@ :D

[cccole]

I think many people cruise with the thought of the possibility of a medical evac. There is a current thread on this subject. It just means you cover the bases before you leave home. We don't even have serious medical problems but I now (at the age of 65) make sure that our travel insurance covers medical evac from wherever we are traveling. It's pretty simple to me, you never know when something will happen. We also make sure our young adult children are covered for medical evacs. It's not expensive for the insurance but would make a huge difference if you run into problems abroad. The insurance we purchase asks us for the countries we will be visiting and we know what to expect before we leave home. But, of course, if money is not an issue and you can afford whatever will be charged then it is not necessary to plan ahead. This, of course, is just my opinion. Cherie

[sail7seas]

I am always insured, just in case, but I donot research medic al facilities in ports scheduled to be visited. ;)

[cccole]

We have good medical insurance but prefer not to deal with it in case of an emergency abroad. Some medical insurance requires that you pay for it and then get reimbursed, and often with many conditions attached to reimbursement. I just think it is important to know what your options are when you are abroad before leaving home. Everyone does what they are comfortable with. I choose to eliminate problems before we travel so we can just enjoy. Again, JMO Cherie

[rjbean4]

WOW this is great to hear about the Coast Guard involved as we are just north of the base they flew out from for this rescue.

 

During the Trans Atlantic we did on the Eurodam from Amsterdam to New York in 2013 we had someone lifted off from the bow by the Norwegian Coast Guard after leaving Stavanger which was our first port. We heard the person involved had a Stroke so it couldn't wait till our arrival to Bergen the next morning.

 

We have a friend that is a world cruiser that moved to be close to us coming up 2 years ago. She emailed during the 8 days they had after leaving Panama telling us about a eye problem. Next we heard from her was after she arrived back to the states on the west coast leaving the ship because of it to seek treatment. She has told us that once cleared to travel she will be returning to our area and not return to the Amsterdam as she does not want to make even a longer flight back to rejoin the ship.

 

Another food for thought came from a neighbor of ours last fall. She and her husband did a Royal Caribbean cruise including Havana. Said the experience was both interesting and scary. While in Havana another passenger who is a nurse while off the ship on a tour had a problem and ended up in a Dr's office or hospital as I don't remember which. She was told she had a arm injury (may have been broken) and needed surgery. She said no and told them to just bandage it up and would take care of it after returning home. She wasn't allowed to leave till she paid them $600 U.S. and they would only take cash. Everyone in the group pitched in with the cash they had but only had half of it and to make up for the rest was told to give up her passport which of course she did not do. There was someone off the ship as a escort with the tour who contacted the ship to let someone there know what had happened and someone came with the money to help take care of the problem so the person involved could leave. Sure this person was also checked out by the Medical Staff on board the ship and being a nurse helped handling the problem to get home.

 

We never travel without Insurance.

[therealblackknight]

U. S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater shared U.S. Coast Guard Southeast's post.

Coast Guard medevacs man from cruise ship near Bahamas

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jawhawk helicopter crew medevacs a 42-year-old man suffering from stomach pains from the cruise ship Koningsdam Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018 approximately 46 miles east of the Bahamas. Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders launched the aircrew who hoisted the patient with his nurse and transferred them to local emergency medical services at Nassau, Bahamas. (U.S. Coast Guard photos by Lt. Cmdr. George Menze)

 

Thanks for the info, would not have figured it was a 42yr old that they had to airlift out. We were all thinking it was an older person...

[therealblackknight]

Wow, was thinking these were rare but that doesn't seem to be the case...

[therealblackknight]

Figured out the problem, I just needed to resize the pics as they were too big as is. Here are some of the pics I took...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Copper10-8]

Nice pics Mr. Real Black Knight! It appears the Jayhawk from CGAS Clearwater was forward deployed (probably in the Bahamas) since, most of the time, CGAS Miami (Opa-Locka) would be the unit conducting aerial medevacs in this particular area.

Also interesting, they're conductinmg it off the aft pool deck (aircraft commander's choice). The majority take place off the bow

Edited February 10, 2018 by Copper10-8

[sail7seas]

While we certahnly applaud and appreciate the work these teams do, we also have to commend our fine captains who work so well with the rescue team to keep the process safe for all. that has to take a good deal of skill and experience on the part of the ship's Captain.l, I would think.