MEDICAL REPATRIATION / ESCORT / EVACUATION / RESCUE
MEDICAL ESCORT
When a seafarer is too ill to travel himself, it is necessary that he be assisted. It is sometimes necessary to escort the patient by a medical doctor as his condition may require change of medication and initiation of a different treatment. This is usually the case when the condition is complicated. In well
stabilized condition and when the patient has to be assisted because of disability alone rather than acute illnesses, a registered nurse may be sufficient.
Medical Repatriation This is necessary when the patient is too ill to continue to work on the ship even when his medical condition is stabilised. This is also necessary if he is given sick leave and recuperation on the ship is not satisfactory. Medical Evacuation / Rescue This is necessary when the seafarer is sick in a place where satisfactory medical facility is not available and he has to be evacuated to a place where he can get treatment. This may require a chartered plane in places where commercial flights are not available or not satisfactory. Depanding on the locality, lear jet planes or helicopters would be used for this operation. In cases of rescue operations where the sick seafarer is still on the ship, helicopters would be used to pick up the patient. Occasionally our doctors would go to the ship with the helicopter to assess the patient first before evacuation. This is to ensure suitability of the patient and to stabilise the patient first before the flight. We are familiar with the chartering of the planes and helicopters and the operations details.
