Pacific Ocean, Near Guam

Mid-day I looked out my window and noticed that the ship seemed to be going very fast, and shortly after that the captain made an announcement that there was a medical emergency and the ship was turning back towards Guam.  As we were racing to Guam, Coast Guard helicopters were racing to meet us and evacuate the patient.  This successfully took place and we were able to return to our heading towards the Federated States of Micronesia.

This was the first helicopter evacuation that I saw on the ship, but we had at least three other medevacs (that I know of) since I have been on the ship.  Arranging the medevac of one passenger was the reason we had an “extra” day at Robinson Crusoe Island.  

In this case, at least near enough to Guam and the US Coast Guard to evacuate the patient so quickly.  Further away in the midst of remote Micronesia or Papua New Guinea, perhaps the speed of evacuation and quality of medical care ashore might not have been as good as in Guam.

Also a PSA that travel insurance with robust medevac coverage is essential.