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The idea of living on these remote islands fascinates me, especially in today's modern world where many on this planet are able to take certain conveniences for

The idea of living on these remote islands fascinates me, especially in today's modern world where many on this planet are able to take certain conveniences for granted. If you have a medical emergency while in places like this, you may be in serious trouble. Even in places like Antarctica, and even at the top of Mount Everest, we have modern medical facilities within range and helicopters that can come grab you, weather permitting. Out here, a heart attack or stroke brings on a different level of scary, knowing you are going to have to cross your fingers in the same way as generations have in the past. There is no-one sending in a flight to get you off the island. If you happen to survive past the initial event, it's going to be a while before you see a specialist! Of course, this would be the same conditions the original explorers to land here lived under, and in fact most of humanity for the majority of human history. But it is not something people tend to think about too much these days when we're generally at least within distance of where helicopters and planes can reach. The FAQ even covers it ... > Note that if a medical evacuation is required, transport may not be quickly available, as outside our supply ship schedule the island has to rely on passing vessels. Even for something like a broken hip, just hope they have enough pain medication on hand until that next ship arrives. Which, if it's on schedule, might be in 3 months.

doublec 5y ago
A few years ago one of the islanders had appendicitis and the island doctor couldn't do anything. They put out a broadcast for ships in the area for help - eventually one was available and went to take him to Managreva, from there to fly to the hospital in Tahiti. Unfortunately he died during the voyage. Another incident with an islander having a medical issue, a broadcast was put out. There were no ships in the area. The situation was dire so they travelled to Mangareva by island longboat - two days over the open ocean - where he eventually was able to be medivacced to Tahiti. Remote island life, with no airport, is definitely risky at times.
tragomaskhalos 5y ago
If you aren't aware of it, you should check out "Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Not Visited and Never Will" by Judith Schalansky
- ptr2voidStar 5y ago
  I like the title of the book!
cycomanic 5y ago
Generally agreeing with you, just wanted to comment that in Antarctica you can't be grabbed by a helicopter (or plane) during a significant portion of the year. There is typically one doctor on the base who trains some of the other personal as "nurses". They have to essentially do everything from minor ailments to significant medical emergencies. There is actually stories about the doctor on the base having to perform an appendics removal on himself. This happened twice once on the Russian base and once on the French IIRC. You can look it up there's even photos.
hermitcrab 5y ago
>If you have a medical emergency while in places like this, you may be in serious trouble. Even in places like Antarctica, and even at the top of Mount Everest, we have modern medical facilities within range and helicopters that can come grab you, weather permitting. A helicopter has landed on the summit of Everest ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle ) but that was a record attempt right on the edge of what is possible. I don't think they would have had enough margin to rescue anyone. Even when I climbed Mera Peak (~21,000 feet) we were told there was no hope of a helicopter coming for us at the higher altitudes.
- EMM_386 5y ago
  > Even when I climbed Mera Peak (~21,000 feet) we were told there was no hope of a helicopter coming for us at the higher altitudes. Not that this isn't extremely dangerous in its own right, but at least there is the option, however slight it may be under the current conditions, of getting to a lower altitude where the helicopter or a rescue climb can get to you. This may be even more feasible if climbing with a group who can help get you lower. On Pitcairn, you simply aren't leaving in any reasonable timeframe. If you survive a heart attack but it only gives you 2 weeks to live without surgery, and the next ship is due in 3 months and the closest freighter is 3 weeks away, you're going to die. It's more similar to being on the moon than on a mountain.
  - hermitcrab 5y ago
    >Not that this isn't extremely dangerous in its own right, but at least there is the option, however slight it may be under the current conditions, of getting to a lower altitude where the helicopter or a rescue climb can get to you. This may be even more feasible if climbing with a group who can help get you lower. And this did indeed happen. One of our group had serious altitude issues. He had to be repressurised in a Gamow bag ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_hyperbaric_bag https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_hyperbaric_bag ) until he had recovered enough to get him down to where a helicopter could evacuate him. One of the Sherpas ran a in a few hours a distance that it took us days to walk, so that he could telephone for the helicopter. Lucky for him it happened before the summit attempt. One of our group also had an aneurysm on the way down (she survived). High places are dangerous! >It's more similar to being on the moon than on a mountain. Probably much worse than Mera Peak. But if you have a heart attack on the summit of Everest, you're almost certainly going to die.

doublec 5y ago

A few years ago one of the islanders had appendicitis and the island doctor couldn't do anything. They put out a broadcast for ships in the area for help - eventually one was available and went to take him to Managreva, from there to fly to the hospital in Tahiti. Unfortunately he died during the voyage. Another incident with an islander having a medical issue, a broadcast was put out. There were no ships in the area. The situation was dire so they travelled to Mangareva by island longboat - two days over the open ocean - where he eventually was able to be medivacced to Tahiti. Remote island life, with no airport, is definitely risky at times.

tragomaskhalos 5y ago

If you aren't aware of it, you should check out "Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Not Visited and Never Will" by Judith Schalansky

ptr2voidStar 5y ago
I like the title of the book!

cycomanic 5y ago

Generally agreeing with you, just wanted to comment that in Antarctica you can't be grabbed by a helicopter (or plane) during a significant portion of the year. There is typically one doctor on the base who trains some of the other personal as "nurses". They have to essentially do everything from minor ailments to significant medical emergencies. There is actually stories about the doctor on the base having to perform an appendics removal on himself. This happened twice once on the Russian base and once on the French IIRC. You can look it up there's even photos.

hermitcrab 5y ago

>If you have a medical emergency while in places like this, you may be in serious trouble. Even in places like Antarctica, and even at the top of Mount Everest, we have modern medical facilities within range and helicopters that can come grab you, weather permitting. A helicopter has landed on the summit of Everest ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Delsalle ) but that was a record attempt right on the edge of what is possible. I don't think they would have had enough margin to rescue anyone. Even when I climbed Mera Peak (~21,000 feet) we were told there was no hope of a helicopter coming for us at the higher altitudes.

EMM_386 5y ago
> Even when I climbed Mera Peak (~21,000 feet) we were told there was no hope of a helicopter coming for us at the higher altitudes. Not that this isn't extremely dangerous in its own right, but at least there is the option, however slight it may be under the current conditions, of getting to a lower altitude where the helicopter or a rescue climb can get to you. This may be even more feasible if climbing with a group who can help get you lower. On Pitcairn, you simply aren't leaving in any reasonable timeframe. If you survive a heart attack but it only gives you 2 weeks to live without surgery, and the next ship is due in 3 months and the closest freighter is 3 weeks away, you're going to die. It's more similar to being on the moon than on a mountain.
- hermitcrab 5y ago
  >Not that this isn't extremely dangerous in its own right, but at least there is the option, however slight it may be under the current conditions, of getting to a lower altitude where the helicopter or a rescue climb can get to you. This may be even more feasible if climbing with a group who can help get you lower. And this did indeed happen. One of our group had serious altitude issues. He had to be repressurised in a Gamow bag ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_hyperbaric_bag https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_hyperbaric_bag ) until he had recovered enough to get him down to where a helicopter could evacuate him. One of the Sherpas ran a in a few hours a distance that it took us days to walk, so that he could telephone for the helicopter. Lucky for him it happened before the summit attempt. One of our group also had an aneurysm on the way down (she survived). High places are dangerous! >It's more similar to being on the moon than on a mountain. Probably much worse than Mera Peak. But if you have a heart attack on the summit of Everest, you're almost certainly going to die.