Buitenzorg et al: Before 2001 (and now) you have a 50% chance (roughly) of an emergency happening during the day - during which time you would be transported to SXM on a regularly scheduled Winair flight or Winair charter, if a plane was available. I know in the 90s my aunt had acute appendicitis. I believe at the time the helicopter that came was stationed on the French side. I honestly don't know what kind it was (I was a teenager). Other than that I suppose you calculate which is the shorter time table - boat to SXM during the night (dangerous as well) or daybreak for a Winair flight. And obviously if the possibility exists for emergencies, patients are sent to SXM in advance, i.e. if it is thought a woman may have a difficult labour, they are sent to SXM a month before due date.
So yes, there are inherent risks to living on Saba and most people their recognize that. I live in a major US city where the average ER wait time is 8 hours due to doctor shortage... I had a major emergency and waited 4 hours. That's the risk we take in living here.
On another note, it's a lucky that the patient was able to be transported by boat. The captains's mother-in-law was in hospital and passed away in the midst of all these goings-on.
The people who are interested - the concerned citizens, elected officials, the doctors and health officials etc - will continue trying to find a solution for emergency situation on Saba that minimizes the risk of those trying to help the patient. No one on Saba or anywhere wants to see a situation like this ever again.