Medical evacuation at sea from Amsterdam

[billroddy]

On September 12, a few hours after we departed Seattle for Alaska, the captain got on the PA system to announce that a passenger had been taken seriously ill and would be removed from the vessel.
We approached the pilot station at Port Angeles. WA where the pilot boat awaited with medics.
The Amsterdam seamen did a remarkable job in lowering the platform and gangway used in tender operations in sheltered waters.
But this was at night at sea in cold and windy weather and took them about a half hour.
When they finished the pilot boat came alongside and medics came aboard.
Then the victim's family boarded the pilot boat with crew members carrying their luggage.
Finally the passenger on a stretcher was lifted aboard and the pilot boat departed.
The crews of the Amsterdam and pilot boat are to be congratulated for carrying out a most difficult mission.

Bill
Ancient Mariner.



.

[CuriousJ]

I work in a hospital where many Alaska cruise passengers ae taken when they are evacuated. It has taught me a big lesson about the necessity for travel/evacuation insurance. The patients who come in with this insurance are a *lot* less anxious about their hospital bills than the ones who don't. They also don't seem too worried about what 2 helicopter rides and 2 hours on a medical evacuation jet from Ketchikan are going to cost them!

Anyway...I used to think such coverage was frivolous but not anymore. I've purchased a med evac policy for our upcoming cruise and will on any future trips!

[Copper10-8]

Great job, guys!

[IRL_Joanie]

Ditto to Copper10-8's Great Job to the Captain, Crew and the Passengers. I hope the passenger evacuated is ok.

Joanie

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hope the passenger is doing better.

[Bakincakes]

Sheesh!!!

Friends were on Hal..Alaska on the aug 30 sailing and they had a total of three pax evacuated from their ship,throughout the sailing. Veendam if I recall correctly.

Doesn't seem like HAL has been having much luck lately.

[Sprocket]

I always feel so bad for those who have to be taken off the ship due to illness. All the planning, anticipation, and just getting to the ship and having it be over sometimes before its even really begun must come with its own stresses.

I have only sailed 3 lines, but it has happened each and every time, that we have had to either return to the embarkation port area, or they have had to be evacuated by helicopter or by the Coast Guard, and not always in the most ideal weather.....

[Copper10-8]

Medical evacuations by air and/or sea are a way of life for HAL. Got a feeling the age & medical history of their avg pax, especially on longer cruises, plays a large part. The ships' crews as well as the agencies/organizations performing the medevac contantly drill on the procedures.

Medevacs are often performed in less than ideal circumstances resulting in people's lives (crew/rescuers, etc.) being put on the line. My hat goes off to all of those dedicated individuals involved in trying to get those patients to a place where they can receive proper and required treatment!

[Pam in CA]

Originally Posted by Copper10-8

Medical evacuations by air and/or sea are a way of life for HAL.

It's not just HAL; medical emergencies happen far more frequently than most of us realize on many different cruiselines. Usually, you don't see the evacuation as they do them when most passengers are off the ship but every now and then, you'll see an ambulance at the dock and know that someone is leaving the ship. On longer cruises, it's not unusual for there to be one or two deaths.

I could make a snarky comment about Carnival but I think I'll keep my mouth shut.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

We did a 30 day on Princess back in 2004 and in just about every port an ambulance met the ship. I agree on longer cruises, you probably see more of this. All cruise lines do very well with emergencies - crew is trained to handle these.

Barbara

[SAN]

I have been on two cruises where cruisers were evacuated. Once in Costa Rica when docked and another time air lifted by helicopter after the ship left Copenhagen. How much does an medical evacuation cost? I always buy travel insurance, but never really looked at how much money goes toward medical evacuation until now. Getting older.

[ANSalberg]

We've been on enuff cruises that it is no longer an oddity- the one I LIKE to remember is the man who fell in the terminal and hit his head horribly, and died, I believe the next day. He couldn't be evacuated for some reason and we headed to the next port. That day was excessively hot and humid as equitorial ports can be so we preferred to just stay on the ship looking out to watch the activities. We saw the ambulance pull up quietly and the gurney come off the ship with a security man from the ship. I was totally amazed and pleased at the gentle and careful handling the man got - I doubt I ever forget it. It was HAL security that was so gentle & kind. I was impressed. That it was "too late" didn't matter; SOMEBODY cared!
Anne

[Cathy-CA]

San -- I have never had to be evacuated, but have read stories that a helicopter airlift and then a med evac flight back to the US from Europe can be $25,000 to $50,000. The evac insurance we use covers us anytime we are hospitalized more than 100 miles from home. My youngest is away at school and I figure if he ever gets sick enough at college to be hospitalized, I can have him flown back home as part of the insurance. That alone makes it worthwhile for me.

[bcd2010]

When I look at sites for med evac ins, they all seem to talk about foreign ports/sailings. We are going to Hawaii -- that's 4 days at sea (each way) and I can imagine evac costs could be high. Does anyone know if we can get med evac ins for domestic cruises? What about just plain ol' ins for someone who has no health ins coverage?

[sail7seas]

Anyone worried about medical evacuation costs should look at MedJetAssist.com.
Excellent evacution policy purchased by the year with a very moderate IMO annual premium. If you are AARP, there's a nice discount.

(No.... I have no affiliation with this company but know people who needed evacuation from Mexico and they were treated great.

[JimVrhovac]

Good training does pay off....

Ruth & Jim

[cdkempton]

We have a son & daughter who both live on the San Juan Islands in Washington. They purchase an annual evac. insurance since they would need to get to the mainland if anything serious were to arise. The ferry service would definitely take too long. Well worth the price for the peace of mind.

[Himself]

I hope the passenger who was evacuated from the elegant and beautiful m.s. AMSTERDAM is doing well.

[billroddy]

The passengers on the Amsterdam did not receive an update. With medical privacy rules it would not be given out.
Bill

Originally Posted by Himself

I hope the passenger who was evacuated from the elegant and beautiful m.s. AMSTERDAM is doing well.

[timothy998]

Two years ago we were flying back from Cancun when one of the passengers became ill just before takeoff...the UA flight attendants then very discretely notified the pilot, and the plane then went back to the gate where the local Mexican EMTs came onboard, provided oxygen, and took the elderly passenger & his wife off the plane. Not sure whatever happened, but there are never any guarantees.

The best thing is that we were with our kids, and everyone...from cabin crew to the EMTs were professional and calm and no one got too excited, and it was akin to a "weather" delay, then we finally got to depart and were on our way.

Thank heaven for these professionals.