V-Flyer

This my first trip report after many flights on Virgin as this was the first with something to write about, so sorry of it goes on a bit. Also apologies as this is very overdue!

This was the start of a road trip starting in SF and ending in LV, there are 4 of us in the group, Husband and wife Ken and Michelle, Sadie and myself - Ed. This was the first time using the new virgin check-in at T3 and it was so smooth and easy, a joy to use, even the bag drop seemed quicker. After a quick breakfast and shopping it was on to boarding. we were sat in the middle of economy, at this time I should point out that M is not a good flyer so we had to play various games during taxi and take-off to keep her mind occupied.

All was the normal great service that I've experienced in the past with the drinks and dinner service. It all got a bit interesting just after the crew had cleared the remnants of the meal. Then an announcement came on asking for any doctors or medical staff to make themselves known to the crew immediately, as both M and S are nurse managers in the UK they made themselves known, the crew said they would let them know depending on who else responded, about 30 sec later they came back and asked them to help as there was no one else on board. So after about 30mins they were back and apparently it was a passenger in premium economy who had passed out and couldn't be wakened, so all they had to do was check his vitals and give him oxygen and calm the crew down! They said that the FSM had told them to come up to Upper later for a few drinks, but they didn't feel like it! More free drinks and they didn't want to take them up!

About hr later the FSM came looking for them and invited us all to come up to Upper for the rest of the flight!! As soon as she said me and S grabbed our bags and followed her so fast we almost fell over each other. Now for someone who has only gone economy it was like walking into another world, we put our bags down on the HUGE seats/beds and then seat at the bar and proceed to poured the biggest measure of alcohol I've seen outside of the bar in the US. Anyway we sat there for most of the flight drinking and eating some fresh bacon sandwiches, K and I did debate going back to economy and seeing how much we could get for them but decided against that as it might cause another in flight emergency! We then took our seats for landing and all too soon it was over,

It was so nice seeing how different it is up that end of the plane and the final nice part was getting off the plane ahead of everyone else while seeing the flight crew keep everyone else back until all in Upper was gone at least I now know why it takes so long to get of once the plane has landed. As a final thank you from the FSM we did get a couple of bottles of champagne. Which were put to good use later on the road trip, but that is another story!

Congrats on the mini-upgrade - glad you enjoyed it even though how you got it is a little unusual!

What happened with the Ill pax? Fair play for the offer of medical assistance, but I would recommend your group bring themslves up to speed with the legality situation with this, as can vary dependant on airline/route/medical training. Worth looking into before reaching for the buzzer....Advise for calming down crew mind should fall outside this....

I'm fairly sure that Tinks has indicated that pax intervening are insured on VS

Also, if you are qualified to help in this situation (dr / nurse etc) and you don't then it is possible for the regulatory body (General Medical Council / Nursing & Midwifery Council) to discipline you for failing to meet its standards. Dosent matter if you are on holiday etc. This has happened in the past.

Only exception would be if you felt the emergency was outside of your professional competence or there is a more senior professional on hand.

DR / Nurse would also be covered by their personal professional indemnity insurance.

quote:Originally posted by Decker
I'm fairly sure that Tinks has indicated that pax intervening are insured on VS

yes should be, and generally things should be fine, it's mainly an isse when professional capacity comes in to play, people with skills to offer are obviously going to intervene, but in this day and age, worthy of those checking up on where they stand.[y]

quote:Originally posted by Decker
I'm fairly sure that Tinks has indicated that pax intervening are insured on VS


Yes they are. There is a 'Certificate of Indemnity' carried on each aircraft if any medical volunteer wants to see it before providing any assistance.

That would also apply to a qualified first aider acting within their training.

Tonty you are spot on.
If you are a registered practitioner, then you do have a duty of care to withold. So basically can provide treatment within your sphere of practice.
If you choose not too, there would be implications..
For instance, if a woman went into early labour on a flight, I as a midwife have a duty of care to provide medical attention, which could be anything from basic observations to delivery, resusitation of the baby if needed and life saving treatment if the mother became unwell...
Same goes if that happens in the street ect..