Medical Evacuation Earlier Today on Reflection 10th March 2016

[AZ Boomer]

Physicians make the worst patients. I has a panic attack and passed out due to dehydration at Guest Relations when the security chief refused to call for medical help. I was the "star code."

 

After a liter of fluid, I recovered. I wasn't " kicked off the ship" but decided it was unsafe for me to stay on the ship beause I couldn't guarantee that I would not have another panic attack. We were going to have five sea days because Celebrity canceled the 2 days in Bali due to terrorism.

 

 

The USCG are true lifesavers. My brother in law was a "Coastie.". I wouldn't trust Indonesia to provide the same level of heroism.

 

Because I had drinks before and with dinner, the ship doctor Mis-diagnosed me as drunk. ( no blood alcohol level, no field sobriety test, no breathalyzer = no proof, pun intended).

 

Because of this, Medical insurance abandoned us in Singapore. Therefore, don't drink before you have your MI.

 

Fortunately, in addition to being a superb physician, I could retire and become a travel agent. I was able to get United Airlines to change my frequent flyer award ticket to leave two days later (business class)

 

My wife and I are now at the W Singapore, celebrating our 30th anniversary with a spa day. (Booked with SPG AMEX points after getting the flights changed using my cell phone).

 

Much better being pampered at a world class hotel than being disrespected by Celebrity because we are handicapped.

Edited March 15, 2016 by AZ Boomer
Spelling

[Motorman23]

What Chapter did you read that ?

 

Lol.

 

Mike

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Edited March 15, 2016 by Motorman23

[Oceangoer2]

I think it's sad that, although there is a perfectly fine helicopter pad on the ships, the Coast Guard helicopters can't land on foreign-flagged ships. We witnessed an evacuation of a gentleman that had a heart attack. I'm quite sure that getting hoisted into the helicopter that way did not improve his health.

Just came off the Equinox yesterday...helicopter landed on helipad on the 2nd day around 10pm during our cruise so not mid air hoist. We were in the Sky lounge when the helicopter landed right below us. Ship came to a stand still and the captain handled everything very well in his announcements. We were told by "a senior officer" that unfortunately the poor man passed away on the dock after the air lift.

[DannyS]

The first 3 S class ships have Helipads. Silhouette and Reflection say "WINCH ONLY." Presumably something changed in the construction such that those two can't support helicopter operations.

 

I've been on a ship when a helicopter landed. I've been on a ship when they used the basket. I've been on a ship where the Coast Guard decided that the patient wasn't stable enough for a helicopter, and we had to turn around and go back to Miami (4 hours away. That one forced the entire itinerary to change!) I've also been on a ship when a hearse met us at our first port to remove a deceased passenger.

 

It all depends on the circumstances.

[helen haywood]

How could the man "pass away on the dock after the air lift?"

 

 

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[Oceangoer2]

How could the man "pass away on the dock after the air lift?"

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

The man went into the helicopter alive but in very bad shape (Captain made an announcement asking for volunteers for blood transfusions about 1am in the morning). When the helicopter landed 'on the dock' (direct quote- probably meant 'land') in St Thomas, he passed away. Very sad. Captain said they did all they could on the ship and transfer to a hospital was necessary. I'm told the ship sped as quickly as possible to a point where the helicopter could pick up the gentleman (not 4 hours away). This isn't based on a rumour around the ship, but speaking with someone who definitely knew the circumstance. No family or friends or luggage went with him into the helicopter.

 

Also, at the next port, there were 3 ambulances waiting for hospital transfer patients...hopefully those folks are okay. Prayers are with all these families.

Edited March 16, 2016 by oceangoer2

[Fogfog]

we have been on ships diverted for medical evac

 

For the most part--I believe everyone on board is not so much as a rubber necker but are someone who has great respect for med- evac team and the smoothness of the procedure.

 

we all wish any family the best in such difficult times...

 

we are thankful there are teams that come to the rescue of people minding their own business only to be hit by a medical emergency...

and

thankful of the compassion fo the crew on board facilitating...

 

But by the grace of God go I...

[AZ Boomer]

Physicians make the worst patients. I has a panic attack and passed out due to dehydration at Guest Relations when the security chief refused to call for medical help. I was the "star code."

 

After a liter of fluid, I recovered. I wasn't " kicked off the ship" but decided it was unsafe for me to stay on the ship beause I couldn't guarantee that I would not have another panic attack. We were going to have five sea days because Celebrity canceled the 2 days in Bali due to terrorism.

 

 

The USCG are true lifesavers. My brother in law was a "Coastie.". I wouldn't trust Indonesia to provide the same level of heroism.

 

Because I had drinks before and with dinner, the ship doctor Mis-diagnosed me as drunk. ( no blood alcohol level, no field sobriety test, no breathalyzer = no proof, pun intended).

 

Because of this, Medical insurance abandoned us in Singapore. Therefore, don't drink before you have your MI.

 

Fortunately, in addition to being a superb physician, I could retire and become a travel agent. I was able to get United Airlines to change my frequent flyer award ticket to leave two days later (business class)

 

My wife and I are now at the W Singapore, celebrating our 30th anniversary with a spa day. (Booked with SPG AMEX points after getting the flights changed using my cell phone).

 

Much better being pampered at a world class hotel than being disrespected by Celebrity because we are handicapped.

 

 

Just was thinking of something as I get ready to have my medical team check me out after the star code ion the millennium.

 

My wife and I had to fill out an extensive medical history form in order to get a message at the Spa at the W Singapore. No medical history taken in the Medical clinic on the Millennium.

So a masseuse takes a medical history and a physician doesn't????????.

 

Hope the Celebrity monitors of Cruise Critic make note of this.

Edited March 18, 2016 by AZ Boomer

[Vicandme]

Hi everyone. I am the person who was evacuated by helicopter on that eventful day! I felt sick around 3am and was taken to the infirmary. I was having a heart attack! So they had to divert the ship to get nearer San Juan PR. Since it was a life or death situation, The US Coastguard stepped in. I did buy the ship medical insurance which covered the $10,000 on ship bill. I must say the medical staff on the ship was amazing and saved my life! When I got to the hospital, they rushed me to surgery where they placed Four stents in one artery! I was there for six days. My husband could not go with me because I chose a member of the medical staff to escort me! So after three days my husband flew to P R to assist me back to Miami and then we drove three says to return to our home in SW Virginia. I am doing very well now. The helicopter transport was Free ( thanks tax payers!) because it was a serious med emergency. Please everyone buy the additional insurance! Prior to this trip I was in great shape!!!!

[MommaBear55]

Hi everyone. I am the person who was evacuated by helicopter on that eventful day! I felt sick around 3am and was taken to the infirmary. I was having a heart attack! So they had to divert the ship to get nearer San Juan PR. Since it was a life or death situation, The US Coastguard stepped in. I did buy the ship medical insurance which covered the $10,000 on ship bill. I must say the medical staff on the ship was amazing and saved my life! When I got to the hospital, they rushed me to surgery where they placed Four stents in one artery! I was there for six days. My husband could not go with me because I chose a member of the medical staff to escort me! So after three days my husband flew to P R to assist me back to Miami and then we drove three says to return to our home in SW Virginia. I am doing very well now. The helicopter transport was Free ( thanks tax payers!) because it was a serious med emergency. Please everyone buy the additional insurance! Prior to this trip I was in great shape!!!!

 

Wow! That is fantastic news. We always hear about the emergency but rarely the aftermath. So glad to hear you are doing well.

[scanditaly]

It is wonderful to know that you are alive and well.

 

Cruise on!

 

Scanditaly

[FlorenceItaly]

Hi everyone. I am the person who was evacuated by helicopter on that eventful day! I felt sick around 3am and was taken to the infirmary. I was having a heart attack! So they had to divert the ship to get nearer San Juan PR. Since it was a life or death situation, The US Coastguard stepped in. I did buy the ship medical insurance which covered the $10,000 on ship bill. I must say the medical staff on the ship was amazing and saved my life! When I got to the hospital, they rushed me to surgery where they placed Four stents in one artery! I was there for six days. My husband could not go with me because I chose a member of the medical staff to escort me! So after three days my husband flew to P R to assist me back to Miami and then we drove three says to return to our home in SW Virginia. I am doing very well now. The helicopter transport was Free ( thanks tax payers!) because it was a serious med emergency. Please everyone buy the additional insurance! Prior to this trip I was in great shape!!!!

 

What a relief to know you are doing very well now! They say women have different symptoms than men when having a heart attack. In fact, I was in ER/hospital last weekend with chest pain/numbness in arm. Fortunately, I am fine. I am wondering what your symptoms were? I appreciate your willingness to share in hopes of helping others learn more about heart attack symptoms. Wishing you good health!

[jbuch02]

MommaBear55 ...... thanks for posting and glad you did well.

 

I have a question. I am a Physician Assistant. I work in an ER. The rule in Strokes and MIs is, "time is tissue." IOW, you must assure adequate perfusion to brain and heart tissue to stop it from being damaged.

 

Did you receive any kind of clot-busters (technically and usually tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) while you were in the care of the Ship's MD? There are time limits within which you can administer this stuff so, if you didn't get it aboard, you probably didn't get it. There are also certain contraindications beside time for getting it. No need to disclose those. Just want to know if you got it while aboard.

 

As an aside and for others, getting tPA can be life saving in the case of MIs, reduce cardiac disability post MI and for stoke can substantially reduce post stroke disabilities. I'd like to know if tPA is being used in the ship's medical facility because we all should want it administered if you meet both the time criteria and don't have any contraindications to its administration.

[jelayne]

We had 3 medical problems on a B2B earlier this year. The first we turned around & returned to port. The other 2 we were at sea a long way from a port. In both of these helicopter evacuations the helicopter didn't land but hovered over the helipad and the ill passenger was lifted in a gurney up to the helicopter.

 

The captain had all the decks closed to passengers so no obvious rubbernecking. The bridge camera was on so you could see on the cabin TV what was happening. Very scary with the ship moving & a helicopter hovering & a passenger in a gurney being hoisted up to the helicopter.

[shepherdqueen]

Thank goodness you are OK! And, yes, we always get the insurance. Nice to know the helicopter ride was free. ;)

[BeagleOne]

Thanks for the update and glad you are doing well!

[H2OH!]

I pray for a speedy recovery and safe journey home.

 

I and 2 other passengers performed CPR on a gentleman who coded in one of the gift shops in St. Maarten. It took the ambulance FOREVER to arrive due to busy port day. FYI... the ambulance does not carry advanced life support meds...zero, zippo. The defibrillator was old and humongous (looked like was from the 1970's.) I am a nurse and have not seen such old equipment. The poor guy would have been better off having his cardiac event on the ship.

 

When I returned to the ship, I had celebrity staff call princess staff that the gentleman was on way to hospital, it did not look and that the wife did not have her passport. They said they would help her... I have no idea if they did.

 

When I arrived home, I did find is his obituary in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Besides having his name, the obituary was clear as it said he had died suddenly while on a cruise in the port of st. marten on February 13th.

 

Whenever I pass that store st. maarten, I say a quick prayer for Bob and his family.

[MommaBear55]

MommaBear55 ...... thanks for posting and glad you did well.

 

I have a question. I am a Physician Assistant. I work in an ER. The rule in Strokes and MIs is, "time is tissue." IOW, you must assure adequate perfusion to brain and heart tissue to stop it from being damaged.

 

Did you receive any kind of clot-busters (technically and usually tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) while you were in the care of the Ship's MD? There are time limits within which you can administer this stuff so, if you didn't get it aboard, you probably didn't get it. There are also certain contraindications beside time for getting it. No need to disclose those. Just want to know if you got it while aboard.

 

As an aside and for others, getting tPA can be life saving in the case of MIs, reduce cardiac disability post MI and for stoke can substantially reduce post stroke disabilities. I'd like to know if tPA is being used in the ship's medical facility because we all should want it administered if you meet both the time criteria and don't have any contraindications to its administration.

 

It's actually Vicandme who was the person with the Emergency.

 

However, coincidentally , I am an Nurse Practitioner who works both as a hospitalist and in the ED..We have a door to table time of under 90 minutes, so we have not used tPa in years. I am old enough to remember when it was FDA approved. It is interesting to wonder what facilities they have on board.

[Jim_Iain]

Wonderful to hear that you had a such quick medical attention.

 

We were on a Transatlantic and were notified of a medical emergency - The ship had to redirect north to Greenland for 15 hours to get close enough for Canadian Air Force Evacuation to reach the ship. Never heard the outcome but I am sure medical attention delayed by this long of a diversion must take a toll on a patient.

 

I had never purchased insurance before but have purchased in for our next Transatlantic.

 

Take care of yourself and hope you are fully recovered and back to normal quickly.

[cheeseheads4ever]

Wow that's great you are doing well. Is the medical insurance different than the travel insurance you get?

[TeaBag]

Physicians make the worst patients. I has a panic attack and passed out due to dehydration at Guest Relations when the security chief refused to call for medical help. I was the "star code."

 

After a liter of fluid, I recovered. I wasn't " kicked off the ship" but decided it was unsafe for me to stay on the ship beause I couldn't guarantee that I would not have another panic attack. We were going to have five sea days because Celebrity canceled the 2 days in Bali due to terrorism.

 

 

The USCG are true lifesavers. My brother in law was a "Coastie.". I wouldn't trust Indonesia to provide the same level of heroism.

 

Because I had drinks before and with dinner, the ship doctor Mis-diagnosed me as drunk. ( no blood alcohol level, no field sobriety test, no breathalyzer = no proof, pun intended).

 

Because of this, Medical insurance abandoned us in Singapore. Therefore, don't drink before you have your MI.

 

Fortunately, in addition to being a superb physician, I could retire and become a travel agent. I was able to get United Airlines to change my frequent flyer award ticket to leave two days later (business class)

 

My wife and I are now at the W Singapore, celebrating our 30th anniversary with a spa day. (Booked with SPG AMEX points after getting the flights changed using my cell phone).

 

Much better being pampered at a world class hotel than being disrespected by Celebrity because we are handicapped.

We were on this cruise and heard about the event at GR. Glad you enjoyed a while in Singapore after you left the ship. We also had a medical evacuation by helicopter on the second leg of this cruise. We veered off course to meet the helicopter as we were quite a ways from land. No one was allowed to view the evacuation as the patient was hoisted into the helicopter. Unfortunately the patient passed away the next day.

[TeaBag]

Hi everyone. I am the person who was evacuated by helicopter on that eventful day! I felt sick around 3am and was taken to the infirmary. I was having a heart attack! So they had to divert the ship to get nearer San Juan PR. Since it was a life or death situation, The US Coastguard stepped in. I did buy the ship medical insurance which covered the $10,000 on ship bill. I must say the medical staff on the ship was amazing and saved my life! When I got to the hospital, they rushed me to surgery where they placed Four stents in one artery! I was there for six days. My husband could not go with me because I chose a member of the medical staff to escort me! So after three days my husband flew to P R to assist me back to Miami and then we drove three says to return to our home in SW Virginia. I am doing very well now. The helicopter transport was Free ( thanks tax payers!) because it was a serious med emergency. Please everyone buy the additional insurance! Prior to this trip I was in great shape!!!!

Thank you so much for your response telling us there was a happy ending. Hope you continue to keep well.