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RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MEDICINE
and went into a grand mal seizure. I
called an ambulance, and we again
headed back to the hospital. Four
hours later in the emergency room
she had a second seizure. This time
a medical team responded within
30 seconds, providing oxygen and
antiseizure medication.
The seizures were caused by the
increased pressure that resulted from
the internal bleeding, even though
the bleeding had stopped two weeks
previously. After another two days
of observation and many phone
calls between me, DAN and our
Colombian neurologist, the decision
was made to move Lynn to a higher
level of care. Due to the severity
of the injury and the continuing
uncertainty about Lynn’s status,
DAN determined it was medically
necessary to send a paramedic to
San Andrés to escort her back home
to Calgary, Canada. The medical kit
the paramedic arrived with quickly
became the envy of all the nurses
as they came into the emergency
department one by one to inspect
it. Their hospital was not equipped
with all the medicines and portable
equipment we have in North
America, but they did a really good
job with what they had.
DAN’s support team was
exceptional. All phone calls
and history were thoroughly
documented, and we and our
Colombian doctor could speak to
DAN’s medical team in English
or Spanish at any time of day or
night. If my cell phone was running
low on time, I could call DAN and
they would immediately call me
back. This type of support was
very reassuring for both Lynn and
me during such a stressful time far
away from home. DAN arranged
for all return flights to be either
business or first class depending
upon last-minute availability, and
the paramedic was very experienced
in medical travel, arranging for
wheelchairs and preboarding, and
was happy to answer questions.
Lynn arrived at the hospital in
Calgary on Jan. 29 after an all-night
series of flights through Bogota
and Houston. She had nothing but
praise for the paramedic, who never
slept a wink, keeping a watchful eye
on her at all times.
DAN made all the evacuation
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WINTER 2012
The Medic’s PersPecTive
The Homers’ story exemplifies the need to prepare for the unexpected and create an emer-
gency action plan before embarking on any kind of trip. Obviously their sailing endeavor
was more extreme than a visit to a Caribbean resort for a week’s worth of diving, but the
message is the same.
Having good communication capabilities was key to the eventual success in treating
Lynn Homer. Whether it is a cell phone, a satellite phone or a marine radio, the means to
communicate with medical professionals is a primary need. Another important element of an
emergency action plan is knowing the location of the nearest medical facility, the travel time
and options for getting there as well as the best way to contact local emergency medical
services. Consider that if it took three planes, a cab and a water taxi to get to your location,
it may take similar time and effort to evacuate.
This situation also illustrates the nature and importance of follow-up care. Too often
we neglect the relevance of continuing care with a medical professional. DAN is available
24/7/365 for physician consultation; knowing this helps when dealing with an emergency as
well as when conducting an evacuation and ensuring appropriate follow-up care.
— John U. Lee, MSDT, EMT, DMT, CHT, DAN medical information specialist
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