Medical emergency in Hawaii: get back home in an air ambulance

Reading Time: 5 minutes

With soaring volcanoes, spectacular sunsets, and palm-fringed lagoons, Hawaii is a treasure trove of flora, fauna, and fun, attracting 10 million international tourists each year for adventure and relaxation. Vacations in Hawaii truly provide a lifetime of bliss.

This tropical experience, however, could be cut short by an unexpected illness, accident, or severe sunburn. While no one wants to think about medical issues when packing for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, you should. If the worst happens while you're on vacation, you'll be prepared to mitigate the damage to your health and your dream vacation.

Learning about air ambulance services is yet another way to prepare for a medical emergency. These aircraft are specially designed to resemble flying clinics and provide the necessary medical care until you arrive at a designated hospital.

What are the most common medical emergencies that can occur while on vacation in Hawaii?

The following are some of the most common medical emergencies encountered by travelers:

• Fractures
• Insect poisoning
• Cuts and wounds
• Alcohol poisoning
• Infectious diseases
• Intestinal infections
• Heart attacks /strokes
• Decompression sickness
• Pulmonary and acute respiratory infections

Fractures

In Hawaii, you might have a strong desire to hike the inland forests or surf the big waves. These activities are not without danger. A vacation-related fracture or broken hips, ribs, feet, or wrist is a common emergency. Depending on the severity of the fracture and whether it is on the spine, you may be unable to walk or even sit upright.

Insect/plant poisoning

Hawaii is a tropical paradise teeming with towering mountains, dense forests, rushing streams, waterfalls, and other natural wonders. There are creepy critters crawling, jumping, and flying around among all this beautiful flora and fauna. Poisoning by insects, such as centipedes or spiders, can cause serious health problems such as difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or high blood pressure. Similarly, poisonous plants abound in Hawaii. These deceptive beauties can be found in your hotel's backyard. They can cause severe rash and blistering, blurred vision, disorientation, and hallucinations.

Cut and wounds

Minor cuts and wounds can be treated with an adhesive plaster, gauze, and other first-aid supplies, but penetrating or abrasive trauma can cause serious infections that lead to persistent fever or, in the worst-case scenario, septicemia. A foreign object lodged deeper in the wound can cause internal bleeding and necessitate intensive treatment, such as surgery.

Intestinal infections and gastroenteritis

Many travelers get intestinal infections and gastroenteritis when they first arrive in Hawaii. In fact, they are the most common medical problem for tourists. Campylobacter and E. coli bacteria in contaminated food and water can cause a loss of appetite. Nausea and diarrhea are possible, as is severe abdominal gripping pain. In severe cases, you may also experience excessive vomiting, including blood.

Heart attacks and strokes

Despite the lack of definitive causation, a correlation has long been observed: heart attacks and strokes are more common during the holiday season. These health issues usually occur after long weekends, holiday sprees, extreme sporting activities, or holiday binge drinking. Vacationers with a history of cardiac rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation, are particularly vulnerable.

Decompression sickness

Exploring the warm underwater world of Hawaii may appear appealing. However, flying on the same day or the day after a submarine dive is strongly discouraged. When combined with high altitudes and low oxygen levels in the aircraft's cabin, this activity, which may appear more contemplative than athletic, can result in decompression sickness. Fatigue and muscle and joint pain are common symptoms. Confirmed or potential coronary patients face the risk of a heart attack or pulmonary oedema.

Pulmonary and acute respiratory infections

The most common reason for returning travelers seeking medical attention is respiratory infections. Among the causative agents are rhinoviruses, influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, measles, mumps, and coronaviruses. They are linked to a variety of health risks, including respiratory tract inflammation, asthma and COPD exacerbations, impaired lung function, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Children, the elderly, and people with comorbid pulmonary diseases are more vulnerable to respiratory tract infections.

Why should you seek medical repatriation services if you have a medical emergency in Hawaii?

Given the variety of health issues that can arise unexpectedly, it is critical to be aware of Hawaii's healthcare system's current state.

The best healthcare provider in Hawaii can be found on the island of Oahu, in Honolulu, the state's capital city. Patients from other islands are frequently airlifted to Honolulu for advanced medical treatment, surgeries, or in the event of a serious accident. However, for routine medical care, other islands can still provide high-quality care. The outlying islands all have hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices for the treatment of common injuries and illnesses.

However, be prepared for underwhelming healthcare infrastructure, especially on the island of Kauai. The US military establishes temporary medical clinics on outlying islands once a year to provide free services to the locals. And the tents are frequently overcrowded.

In this case, medical repatriation may be beneficial. It refers to the process of returning travelers back home for medical treatment, usually via aeromedical transport. Travelers may seek medical repatriation services for a variety of reasons, including:

• Cost: Healthcare in Hawaii can be expensive, especially if you do not have health or travel insurance. Travelers may wish to return home for treatment or a procedure that is less expensive there.
• Family: For patients, being closer to their loved ones often means receiving the moral support needed to deal with the emotional stress of their illness or injury.
• Unavailable procedure: To get a procedure or therapy that is not available in Hawaii.

How to get back to your home country from Hawaii when sick or injured?

Depending on the seriousness of your illness or injury, you have 2 options: our commercial medical escort service or our chartered medical flights.

Medical repatriation from Hawaii with a medical escort

Medical repatriation with a medical escort is one of our most budget-friendly long-distance patient transportation services. It is intended for patients with minor medical emergencies that do not pose a significant health risk during the flight. Because the patient transport will take place on a scheduled commercial flight with limited medical resources, the following conditions must be met:

• The patient's condition must be stable enough for him to be able to wait for a commercial airliner's availability.
• They must be fit to fly commercially and able to deal with the hassles of checking in and boarding (although they will be assisted by a medical escort)
• The airline must approve the transport, as well as the use of a stretcher if the patient is unable to sit comfortably;

• Can refuse to board if the passenger is contagious or has an infectious disease, has psychological issues which may lead to violent behavior or is too sick to fly.

What are the benefits of our long-distance medical escort service?

Our medical escorts are knowledgeable, experienced, and professional individuals who will assist you throughout your trip. They can handle all ground arrangements, book the flight(s), and secure all necessary equipment and medications. We can also contact your closed ones to obtain a health report and your medical history to better serve your needs. We'll also handle minor details like check-in, tickets, luggage checking and handling, and wheelchair security. Consider the medical escort as someone always available to help you with your medical needs while also looking out for your personal ease and comfort.

Medical repatriation on an air ambulance from Hawaii to your home country

Some of the illnesses or injuries listed above may be minor and will not disrupt your vacation, or if they do, will only necessitate our medical escort service without putting yourself at risk. On the other hand, if they are severe enough to prevent you from moving or necessitate ongoing medical treatment and care, you may want to consider flying back home via an air ambulance, for cheaper medical care, where you are insured, and where your family is present.

Air ambulances are the quickest, safest, and most efficient way to transport a patient from Hawaii to the mainland. Our medical planes are outfitted with cutting-edge medical technology and equipment similar to that found in an ICU. This means that even some of the most critically ill patients can be transported.

COVID-19 patients, for example, can be transported back home using ou modern equipment without jeopardizing the safety of anyone else involved in the overseas patient transportation process. A patient with severe symptoms, for example, will travel in one of our isolation units, whereas asymptomatic patients who do not require medical attention can travel alone in a private jet.

Traveling commercially with Monkeypox, like COVID-19, is impossible. Airlines have every right to refuse passengers with symptoms of infectious diseases from boarding their flights in order to protect other passengers and the cabin crew. We have both air ambulances and private jets available for Monkeypox patients who need to travel quickly. We have the necessary isolation devices and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the patient transport process.

If you choose us for medical repatriation from Hawaii to your home country, you can expect expert care throughout the flight. A doctor and a paramedic will be on board to look after you and treat you as needed. We even have specialist doctors on hand if you have a medical condition that requires specialized treatment and supervision.

Do you have any additional questions?

If you couldn't find what you were looking for, please visit our FAQ page.

Contact us today!

Contact the experts at Medical Air Service to learn more about our medical repatriation services for patients in need of care.