Article on In Flight Medical Emergencies

From yesterday's Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/n ... mentpage=1.

The Comments section carries some more stories.

I have only ever heard a call for a doctor (wasn't specific to medical ) go out once, didn't hear anything more all flight so assumed all was ultimately ok.

I was also on a LHR-HKG flight about 4 years ago where we managed to taxi off stand and were in sight of the runway before we had to go back to the terminal - a woman clearly terrified of flying had a breakdown and really had to get off the plane. Her kids were treated to a brief time in UC with lots of hugs from the crew (they were in tears) given their SYD trip was called off... a shame.

Considering the amount of people who fly around the world on a daily basis I am surprised that there are not more medical emergencies or deaths on board on a more frequent basis.... Or perhaps there are, but as the article illudes too, unless it involves law suits or a celebrity the events pass unreported

Fascinating stuff, thanks for posting that Paul. y)

Yes thanks for posting Paul , very interesting read

Thanks.

A well written article, avoiding the usual nonsense often spouted on this subject.

Interesting stories there..

Certainly good to acknowledge that the presence of a (medical) doctor on the plane rarely adds anything - even if the doctor is awake, alert and sober.. which is unlikely. Reassurance, first aid, oxygen, can be administered by trained cabin crew. Otherwise, it's a decision to land; or not.

I tried to use a stethoscope whilst in flight once, and unsurprisingly, thanks to the engine drone, you can't hear a damn thing through it.. so it's useless in listening for heart sounds or breathing sounds.

Thanks for posting
I thought that was very interesting indeed
I have never been on a flight where a call has been made for a doctor
But as joey mentioned given the number of people who fly the number of reported incidents seems really low. But as mentioned this could also be due to VIP issues or law suits and maybe also the simple professionalism of the crew. I greatly admire cabin crew that's for sure.
It must be a great job but also reckon in some ways it could be harder than it looks
I couldn't do it that's for sure

My husband was called to a medical emergency in Economy on a VS night flight last year. The passenger, who had an extensive medical history had lost all feeling from his waist down. My husband actually found he could hear the breath sounds and heartbeat perfectly well but only way to examine the man was to get him flat on the floor - at which point the feeling came back! A large man and a small, cramped seat!!!! A lesson there me thinks!

Then the man's wife fainted, so she had to be tended to as well! Another passeger on the floor! All told, he was away from his bed for ages.

The FSM was very grateful and a very nice thank you letter came from Crawley Towers, accompanied by decent number of miles in his account a few days later.

I've treated 2 people, both on Virgin transatlantic. One divert which saved his life.

Obviously not going into details but the first was pre 911 which made life and communications with the flight deck crew much easier.

Cabin crew excellent on both occasions but it isn't their day job and they were more than happy to hand over to a qualified passenger. Had I not got involved the 2nd patient would probably died somewhere mid-atlantic...

W.

I've treated 2 people, both on Virgin transatlantic. One divert which saved his life.

Obviously not going into details but the first was pre 911 which made life and communications with the flight deck crew much easier.

Cabin crew excellent on both occasions but it isn't their day job and they were more than happy to hand over to a qualified passenger. Had I not got involved the 2nd patient would probably died somewhere mid-atlantic...

W.

Wow hats off PW , are you a doctor of some sort or just had med training ?
Did you save the 2nd by CPR or was it something else ? I know you said about not wanting to go into details and I respect that but I'm intrigued .

Thanks, a very interesting read.

Working in service control for London Underground we face passengers taken ill onboard Trains on a daily basis, thankfully very few turn out to be serious illnesses.

I certainly do not envy Air Crew having to deal with these situations at 38000 ft and thousands of miles away from land.

I have no knowledge of having any medical emergencies on any flight I have been on and have only been delayed once by a passenger deciding they would rather stay on the ground after boarding.

We were on a flight home from Florida a couple of years ago. Not long after taking off came an announcement/request for medical assistance, after which it went quiet so we assumed all was either well or a false alarm. Neil a couple of hours later, when there was an announcement to say that the crew had been in touch with ground medical staff and that we needed to land in Boston to get the person to hospital. This was about 2 or 3 in the morning, and we landed to flashing lights, a couple of ambulances and hat I assume we're place escort cars. Obviously, I have no idea what follow, but I was struck by how well and smoothly it all seemed to be handled.

Also found out, just as we got off at our destination, that we'd been just minutes from the crew running out of flying time. In which case, we'd all have been sendingn unscheduled time in Boston....

I've treated 2 people, both on Virgin transatlantic. One divert which saved his life.

Obviously not going into details but the first was pre 911 which made life and communications with the flight deck crew much easier.

Cabin crew excellent on both occasions but it isn't their day job and they were more than happy to hand over to a qualified passenger. Had I not got involved the 2nd patient would probably died somewhere mid-atlantic...

W.

y) y)

I was on an AA night flight a while back when all the lights went on and a PA asked urgently for a doctor. Plane was met by paramedics at LHR. Not a nice experience.