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Background
While swimming in the ocean near Barbados during a break from her studies, a college student contracted a virus from contaminated water that quickly spread to her nervous system. Paraplegia occurred less than one hour after the onset of the first symptoms of the viral infection. After seeking medical attention on the island, Global Rescue was tasked by the student’s college to transport her to her home hospital in Burlington, Vermont.
Challenges
- Rapid spread of viral infection
- Controlling spinal cord swelling during flight
Mission Summary
Global Rescue dispatched a private medevac jet with a flight paramedic and nurse on board to transport the patient, her mother and grandmother back to Vermont. While flight crews were prepping the aircraft for departure, Global Rescue contacted both the attending and receiving neurosurgeons to ensure administration of proper preflight medications to help mitigate the stresses of flight and reduce spinal cord swelling. Additional swelling resulting from flight could have made her condition worse and caused further neurological damage.
The progress of the flight was monitored from Global Rescue’s Boston Operations Center utilizing FAA flight tracking technology to accurately estimate the time of arrival. Upon arrival in Burlington, the patient was taken in a waiting ambulance to the hospital.
Outcome
Successful transport of the patient and family members to the hospital of their choice.
Doug Gulleson loves to scuba dive overseas and makes sure he has his U.S. health care and overseas health care, www.gninsurance.com/extreme-sports, information with him at all times when he travels.
