Jenni, I think the important thing to remember is that distance should be met with an equal attention to preparation. While we are about 20 minutes from the hospital, we have only one car, and so when my wife is working if one of the kids were to get sick (which has happened) it would take at least 20 minutes for her to get home, then another 20 minutes to get them to the hospital. That after the phone calls to the doctor to make sure he okays it. So in all honesty, you would not be that further away, time wise, than we are now.

Some time back we had an event like that, but once Linda got home, and got one kid on the way to the hospital, our other CAH child started getting sick. I had to call my dad, who lives about 20 minutes away, to come take the second child to the ER, where my wife was, while I stayed with our other kids. It was nerve wracking but in the end everything turned out okay. We always make sure to get busy with each illness, and prepare from the beginning. First a double dose, if they don’t hold that down, then we use the Phenergan suppository, wait a half an hour then double dose. wait another half an hour and if they are still vomiting, give the shot and prepare to head to the ER. In our case I would call my wife after the Phenergan, just so she can be heading home.

In your case you could decide a point in that process to get in the car and head to the hospital. Even if you eventually don’t need to take them to the ER, having to turn back is less of a problem than having to start late. And also make sure your cell phone(s) are always charged and the meds are packaged so you can use them handily in the car. The trip would by necessity involve two adults, one to drive and one to take care of the sick child, so if you have other children you’d need to take them along. You’d also need to check cell reception at the farm and along the route, so you’d have uninterrupted communication with your doctor and the ER.

That’s a basic emergency plan that your husband would need to acknowledge and participate in to ensure the distance didn’t pose any more risk. Preparedness would make up for the distance as long as both of you were willing to implement the plan in emergencies.

I think the biggest problem with living that far away form medical help, is that too little preparation is made. Think things through ahead of time. Develop the emergency plan, and make sure all involved know their part. With all that, I think you’d be in as good a shape an most of the rest of us.