Evacuation

Medical Evacuations (referred to as Medevacs most times) are rare instances where a medical emergency forces a contestant to be removed from the game without being voted out. For a medical evacuation to occur, the medical staff will be called in to assess the contestant's condition and whether or not they are fit to continue in the game.

Occurences
The first medical evacuation occurred in. Michael Skupin fell into the camp fire at Kucha, severely burning his hands. He dived into the river to quell the pain. He was evacuated by helicopter.

In, Bruce Kanegai complained of increasing stomach pain for several days. Claiming he had not been able to go to the toilet since visiting a Panamanian village on reward several days earlier, he requested examination by medical. They pulled him from the game, though he returned to participate as a member of the jury.

was the first season to feature two medical evacuations. The first occurred to Jonathan Penner, who sustained a puncture wound to the knee in a reward challenge. Several days later, medical was called in to examine the injury. The wound had become seriously infected, and Jonathan was reluctantly pulled from the game. On Day 31, James Clement was examined by medical for a cut finger which had grown infected. On the grounds that the infection could spread and cause severe damage to his joints, James was pulled from the game, though continued to participate as a member of the jury.

In, Joe Dowdle suffered an infection in his leg, which began to prove problematic at the time of the merge. Following the first individual immunity challenge, he was asked to remain at the challenge site while his tribemates returned to camp. When examined by medical, it was deemed that the infection could spread to his bones and/or blood, which would lead to amputation or death if not prevented, and was pulled from the game.

In, the controversial challenge Schmergen Brawl led to several injuries, mainly to Mike Borassi. Following the challenge, Mike was retained at the challenge site for medical evaluation, where it was deemed that he needed to be pulled from the game. Several days later, during an immunity challenge, Russell Swan passed out. The challenge was halted as medical saw to Russell, whose dehydration resulted in plummeting blood pressure. Fearing for his life, Russell was evacuated from the game.

saw the first evacuation of a female contestant when Kourtney Moon injured her wrist during the first challenge. The challenge was halted, as medical examined Kourtney's injury. Requiring x-ray analysis, she was pulled from the challenge site. Jeff informed the tribes that since the challenge required nine castaways to start and finish, Manono won by default. However, the option to continue the challenge with a nine versus eight competition as a gesture of goodwill, yet Manono declined. At tribal council, Salani was informed that Kourtney had been pulled from the game as her injury would require surgery. Subsequently, Colton Cumbie began to experience severe stomach pain. When he was found curled up in a ball, his tribemates called in medical, where it was deemed that he may have been suffering from appendicitis, and he would need to be evacuated from the game for further diagnosis and treatment.

In, Shamar Thomas got a grain of sand in his eye. Although his tribemates doubted the severity of the injury, medical determined that the foreign object in his eye could cause a corneal abrasion that could cause loss of sight if untreated. Shamar was pulled from the game. Later, on Day 36, Erik Reichenbach collapsed shortly after Tribal Council. Medical determined that his body was giving up after taking so much punishment throughout the game. He was pulled from the competition, though remained a member of the jury.

Quits Due to Illness
On occasions where the medical team clears a contestant physically, allowing them to continue playing, a contestant has elected to leave the game regardless. Although officially classed as a quit, these incidents are sometimes referred to as medical evacuations.

In, Gary Stritesky reported feeling dizzy and experiencing chest pain, fearing he had cracked a rib during the Reward Challenge. Medical was called in to evaluate his condition. He was deemed to be fit to continue in the game, although his tribemates encouraged him to speak up if he continued to struggle. Several days later, he suffered vertigo due to an insect allergy and pulled himself from the game.

In, Dana Lambert experienced severe stomach pain and nausea. Although medical cleared her for the time being, Dana insisted she was too sick to continue and elected to leave the game.

Impact
featured a twist in which three medically evacuated contestants returned to play against new castaways: Michael Skupin, Jonathan Penner and Russell Swan. James Clement would also return to compete in and Colton Cumbie returned for.

Trivia

 * Kourtney Moon is the earliest medevac, being evacuated on Day 3 of.
 * Erik Reichenbach is the latest medevac, being evacuated on Day 36 of.
 * There have been a total of 12 medical evacuations on Survivor (U.S.).