Managing Medical Emergencies While Flying: Preparing for and Responding to In-flight Health Crises

Medical Emergencies at 30,000 Feet: Dealing with Health Issues While Flying

You're settled into your airplane seat, headphones on, ready for your flight to take off. Suddenly, a call goes out - "Is there a doctor on board?" What do you do if you or someone else has a medical issue mid-flight? With thousands of flights taking off each day, in-flight medical emergencies are a rare but real occurrence. Knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death.

Why Medical Issues Happen Mid-Flight

There are a few reasons health problems can pop up once you're at cruising altitude:

• The cabin pressure in an airplane can exacerbate some medical conditions like blood clots or breathing issues.
• Stress and anxiety around flying may also provoke symptoms.
• The cramped quarters and proximity to others can spread infectious diseases.
• Dehydration from low cabin humidity and alcohol consumption can also be a trigger.

Fortunately, while scary, most in-flight medical issues are fairly minor. However, being prepared and knowing how to respond can help minimize disruption and keep everyone safe.

Roles of the Cabin Crew

While flight attendants are not medical professionals, they are trained in first aid and emergency response. Their responsibilities include:

• Assessing the situation and communicating needs to the pilots.
• Making requests for any doctors, nurses, or others with medical training on board.
• Administering first aid, oxygen, defibrillation, or other assistance.
• Deciding if an emergency landing is required.

The cabin crew is the first line of support for medical issues mid-flight. Their training prepares them to manage minor situations or escalate appropriately when needed.

When Passengers Should Step In

While cabin crews handle most minor medical issues, health professionals or those with training may be called upon to assist. As a general rule of thumb, if you have skills that could help, make them known.

Specific situations when passengers may be asked to help include:

• Chest pain or heart attack: A doctor or nurse may provide vital support until the plane lands.
• Difficulty breathing: If you have training, you may be able to operate oxygen devices.
• Seizures or altered mental status: Help crew monitor the person and prevent injury.
• Cuts, burns or other injuries: Those with first aid skills can help stop bleeding and bandage wounds.

Even without formal training, follow crew instructions and offer an extra set of hands when needed. However, leave complex interventions to medical professionals on board.

What First Aid Supplies are Onboard?

Airplanes are required to carry first aid kits and other medical devices like:

• Adhesive bandages
• Gauze
• Antiseptic wipes
• Thermometers
• Basic medications
• Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
• Emergency medical kits
• Oxygen

While not as extensive as an emergency room, these supplies allow crews to manage minor issues. For more serious cases, planes divert to the nearest appropriate airport.

Your Rights as a Passenger

As a passenger, you have rights around medical care during flights:

• The right to medical assistance if needed.
• The right to privacy if treatment occurs.
• The right to refuse treatment if competent to make decisions.
• The right to reasonable accommodations for disabilities.

However, keep in mind the cabin crew's first priority is safety. If your condition becomes serious enough, the captain can make medical decisions on your behalf.

Steps To Prepare For In-Flight Medical Issues

While there's no way to guarantee a complication-free flight, some advance planning can help minimize risks:

• Talk to your doctor: Discuss any health concerns and decide if it's safe to fly.
• Pack medications: Bring more than enough in your carry-on along with prescriptions.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before and during the flight.
• Request special accommodations: Airlines can provide wheelchairs, oxygen, and other medical amenities.
• Consider travel insurance: It can help cover costs if you need to be hospitalized away from home.
• Familiarize yourself with procedures: View airline websites so you know what to expect if help is needed.

While in-flight medical issues are rare, being prepared helps minimize complications and keep all passengers safe. By assisting cabin crews or speaking up when skilled, you may be in the right place at the right time to save a life!

What to Do If You or Someone Else Has a Medical Issue Mid-Flight

You're coasting along on your flight when suddenly a medical situation arises. A fellow passenger complains of chest pains, another has a hard time breathing, or someone loses consciousness. Medical events, while uncommon, do happen mid-flight. By staying calm and knowing what to do, you can help the patient while allowing the cabin crew to handle the situation.

Step 1: Notify the Cabin Crew Immediately

At the first sign of any medical issue, press the call button to alert a flight attendant. Provide clear details about the problem and whether the person seems stable or distressed. The crew is trained to assess the situation, provide aid, and coordinate next steps.

Step 2: Offer to Help if You Have Relevant Skills

If you have medical training as a doctor, nurse, EMT, or similar, make it known quickly. For serious situations like heart attacks, strokes, or injuries, skilled assistance can be invaluable until the plane lands. Follow the instructions of the cabin crew but offer your expertise.

Step 3: Stay Out of the Way If You Don't Have Relevant Skills

If you don't have medical knowledge, avoid crowding the person needing help. Well-meaning assistance from untrained passengers can make the situation more chaotic. Keep a reasonable distance so crew members and medical professionals have space.

Step 4: Provide Basic Aid If Requested

The cabin crew may ask for help with minor tasks like retrieving supplies, comforting children traveling with the ill person, communicating with the cockpit, or cleaning up spills. Follow all instructions and assist how you can.

Step 5: Return to Your Seat Once the Situation is Stable

After the urgent situation resolves, return to your seat unless further help is requested. Allow the cabin crew to monitor the person and prepare for landing if needed. The situation is in their experienced hands.

Step 6: Deplane Normally Once Landed

In most cases, the cabin crew will ask passengers to deplane normally after landing and allow medical personnel to come on board. However, be prepared for the possibility of waiting on board if requested.

Step 7: Seek Any Needed Follow-Up Care

If you provided direct care, the airline may request your contact details to share with the receiving hospital. You may need medical follow-up yourself, especially if exposed to bodily fluids. Otherwise, continue your travels and try to put the stressful event behind you.

By staying calm, avoiding interference, and cooperating fully, you allow cabin crews to expertly manage in-flight medical situations. Notify crew immediately at the first sign of illness, provide assistance when properly trained, but otherwise let the professionals handle things.

Tips for Airline Passengers with Chronic Medical Conditions

If you live with ongoing health issues, the thought of flying can provoke anxiety. However, with proper preparation, most chronic conditions are manageable at 30,000 feet. Follow these tips to travel safely and comfortably even with medical needs.

Know Your Limits

Talk to your doctor honestly about your condition and ability to fly. While not advisable for every chronic disease, most stabilized issues do fine with in-flight precautions.

Get Necessary Doctor Approvals

Many airlines require approval from your physician for travel if you have significant medical needs. This ensures flying is safe for both you and other passengers.

Pack More Medications Than Needed

Carry at least a week's extra medication in your hand luggage. This provides a buffer in case flights get delayed or bags misrouted.

Keep Medications Easily Accessible

Along with packing extra, keep what you need during the flight in your handbag or an outer pocket. This allows quick access if needed without digging through luggage.

Request Special Accommodations

Let the airline know in advance about any accommodations needed like wheelchairs, oxygen, special meals, or mobility assistance. Provide medical documentation to support requests.

Consider Travel Insurance

Policies with emergency medical coverage can be a lifesaver if you require hospitalization away from home. Choose an insurer familiar with your pre-existing condition.

Fly Nonstop When Possible

Connecting flights mean accessing medications and equipment multiple times through security. Opt for direct routes to simplify logistics.

Ask for Bulkhead or Aisle Seating

More legroom and easy bathroom access help when managing chronic conditions. Airlines often provide priority seating on request.

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of fluids before and during the flight to avoid dehydration complications. Water is best, but limit alcohol and caffeinated beverages.

While extra planning is required, most ongoing medical issues can be managed smoothly during air travel. With open communication, preparation, and support from your airline, flying can be comfortable even with chronic health needs.

Liability Issues Around Medical Care on Airplanes

You're on a flight when a fellow passenger chokes on food. An announcement calls for medical help. Should you step in? While wanting to help, liability concerns may make you hesitate.

Good Samaritan Laws

Most countries have Good Samaritan laws protecting those giving reasonable medical care from legal liability. On US flights, these laws cover the cabin crew and passenger volunteers in emergency situations.

However, laws differ across borders. It helps to know regulations but focus first on saving lives.

Airline Responsibilities

The airline itself has a duty to aid passengers with medical issues. Lawsuits typically target airlines for gross negligence like failing to divert after signs of a heart attack. Most claims focus on crew actions, not passenger volunteers.

Medical Professional Obligations

Doctors and nurses have professional obligations to help in emergencies, even outside of their licensing state or country. But Good Samaritan laws still provide legal protection for their good faith efforts.

Documentation and Consent

When possible, get verbal consent from the ill person before providing treatment. Documenting details with the cabin crew also provides helpful records if questions arise later.

Refusal of Treatment

Pressuring someone to accept care against their wishes could result in battery charges. Respect refusals unless the person becomes incapacitated and unable to make decisions.

Prioritizing Life Over Lawsuits

In truly life-threatening crises, legal concerns should not deter urgent care. Few passengers will sue a good faith responder, especially if you document discussions and obtain consent.

While legal action from in-flight care is rare, it's safest to let the cabin crew coordinate response. Use your best judgement and act to save lives first. The law offers broad protections for this.

Preparing for In-Flight Medical Emergencies

While no one expects in-flight health crises, they do occur. Some preparation helps ensure you're ready to assist professionally and calmly if an emergency situation arises mid-air.

Pack a Travel First Aid Kit

Carry basic supplies like bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, latex gloves, and a CPR mask. Bonus points for adding tweezers, trauma shears, and an emergency blanket.

Bring Prescription Medications You May Need

Carry epinephrine if you have severe allergies, nitroglycerin for heart conditions, and inhalers or nebulizers for asthma or COPD.

Know Aircraft Medical Resources

Read up on the first aid and automated external defibrillators available in aircraft cabins. Understanding onboard resources helps direct response.

Refresh First Aid and CPR Skills

Take a hands-on class for first aid, CPR, AED use, and other lifesaving skills. Practice helps respond instinctively in stressful situations.

Review Aircraft Emergency Protocols

Airlines have detailed emergency procedures for issues mid-flight. Reading these provides valuable perspective on coordinating response.

Travel with Someone Trained

Having a skilled companion like an off-duty nurse, paramedic, or EMT means built-in assistance if trouble arises.

Know Your Limits

While first aid helps, leave complex interventions to medical professionals. Offer support, but don't attempt treatment exceeding your qualifications.

With preparation, in-flight medical emergencies feel less intimidating. Build your skills, know aircraft resources, and partner with the cabin crew for professional care regardless of altitude.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.