What are the procedures for handling a medical emergency on board an aircraft?

Handling a medical emergency on board an aircraft involves swift steps: 1. Assessment: Identify any medical professionals among passengers or crew. 2. Communication: Notify the flight crew immediately. Seek advice from ground-based medical support. 3. First Aid and Support: Administer aid following the medical kit's instructions. 4. Decision Making: The pilot may consult with ground medical professionals to decide if a diversion to the nearest suitable airport is necessary. 5. Coordination: Comply with crew instructions, offer aid, and maintain passenger privacy and respect. 6. Documentation: Keep detailed records of the incident, including passenger details, symptoms, actions taken, and communication with ground support.

1. Assessing the situation is not only about assessing the medical emergency, but it is also assessing the safety of the scene first before approaching the person in distress. For example an open overhead lockers with bags about to fall, or an electric wire. Also you need to assess what you see as a first responders to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). 2. From a personal experience as well you might first ask for help before starting your first aid procedures more resources might be of help like another crew member, a doctor, a nurse, or any other form of medically trained personnel.

So……..I have served on several legal cases where airline front line employees failed to deliver adequate medical attention to a passenger……there is a trend in the industry that is eroding the decision making for whatever reasons to ensure that the pax is attended to. In one case the pax died from airline negligence……several others …..lack of common sense, and another…..inadequate employee training which resulted in severe medical injury to a fellow employee. I will leave you with this…..there are no excuses to procedurally do the right thing, bring your A game to when you check in for your trip, and airlines……step it up! Start vetting your frontline with increasingly vigilant screening.

In my experience a well structured approach is the best way to go. 1. Assessment: Check scene safety, identify medical emergencies. 2. Medical Assistance: Ask for onboard medical professionals’ help. 3. Notify Crew: Inform flight crew and establish communication with ground medical support. 4. First Aid: Use onboard medical kit for basic interventions like CPR or AED. 5. Monitoring & Decision: Continuously monitor the patient; pilot decides on emergency landing if needed. 6. Coordination: Manage situation with crew, maintain patient privacy. 7. Documentation: Record details of the incident and actions taken. 8. Post-Emergency Review: Debrief and review for improvement.

Priorize a vida, sempre. Situa??es em que é necessário atendimento médico a bordo s?o mais comuns e frequentes do que possamos imaginar. Tripulantes de cabine s?o treinados para avaliar, prestar primeiro socorros, comunicar os pilotos e solicitar o atendimento voluntário de médico(s) munido(s) de CRM(s), caso tenha a bordo. A depender da criticiade da situa??o, se faz necessário desviar o voo para um aeródromo ao longo da rota, para que o passageiro seja socorrido com mais brevidade e recursos em solo, por equipes médicas existentes nos aeroportos. Vale lembrar que apesar da emergência, temos muitos outros passageiros a bordo e o curso das a??es devem ser pautados em todas os procedimentos padr?es para a seguran?a do voo.

AIRFRANCE propose aux médecins, clients flying blue de rejoindre la communauté DOCTORS ON BOARD, en échange d’un crédit de miles. L’objectif de ce programme est de permettre à notre personnel navigant d’identifier très rapidement les médecins à bord susceptibles d’intervenir. Une intervention à bord est remerciée par des crédits de miles supplémentaires. Les médecins volontaires seront formés aux interventions en altitude. Chez AIRFRANCE, en cas d’événement médical en vol, le commandant de bord se met immédiatement en contact avec le SAMU de Paris et le Centre de Contr?le des Opérations d’AIRFRANCE. Si besoin, un déroutement d’urgence peut être décidé.

During a medical emergency on an aircraft, crew members trained in basic first aid and CPR provide immediate assistance using on-board medical kits. They seek medical professionals among passengers and communicate with ground-based experts for guidance. Depending on the severity, the pilot might divert the flight to the nearest suitable airport. Passenger comfort and privacy are maintained throughout. Afterward, crew members document the incident and inform ground staff for further assistance or follow-ups upon landing. The aim is to stabilize the situation and ensure the affected passenger receives necessary care until a safe landing for additional medical assistance if needed.

1/ the trained cabin crew take care of the passenger 2/ we seek for medical assistance from a professional in the cabin 3/ we contact SAMU in France to have a second medical assistance / advisory 4/ the captain takes his decision to continue or reroute to an airfield with medical assistance using these information and a “FORDEC” decision procedure.

If a medical emergency arises, the crew will search for qualified medical help among passengers, potentially using the public address system. Additionally, they may contact ground-based medical services like MedAire or MedLink for advice, following the guidance provided and utilizing on-board medical resources.

It is worth noting that if SATCOM is unavailable a phone patch via HF may be required. This increases the workload in the flight deck. Earlier notification of an issue will enable the team to set up appropriately and increase the chances of a satisfactory outcome.

Handling a medical emergency on an aircraft involves trained crew assessing the situation, providing immediate assistance, and communicating with ground-based medical support. Airlines equip crews with medical kits containing basic supplies and medications. They can request assistance from onboard medical professionals and, if necessary, divert the flight to the nearest suitable airport for urgent care. Crew also follow post-emergency reporting protocols, detailing the incident and any required follow-up care. This structured approach, access to medical kits, and coordination with ground support ensure a prompt and organized response to in-flight medical emergencies.

The crew will provide basic medical treatment to the affected person, such as administering oxygen, applying bandages, giving medications, or performing CPR. They will use the emergency medical kit (EMK), which contains various drugs and devices, such as analgesics, antihistamines, epinephrine, syringes, blood pressure monitor, and defibrillator. The crew will also use the automated external defibrillator (AED), which can deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heart rhythm in case of cardiac arrest. The crew will monitor the person's condition and report any changes to the medical professional on board or on the ground

As a well trained cabin crew , we immediately administer basic first aid as per the situation and available resources on the aircraft. Utilize onboard medical kits, which typically contain basic medical supplies, to address immediate needs. Coordinate with the each other and the captain. Inform them of the situation and any medical professionals offering assistance. Follow the captain's instructions regarding diversion or emergency landing, if necessary. Overall, all of the above mentioned steps are the right ones for a better start while dealing with any medical case onboard.

La trousse médical d’urgence est un ??no go??. En clair, si le nombre de trousses nécessaires n’est pas à bord, l’avion ne décolle pas et tout est mis en ?uvre pour gréer le vol avec le nombre de trousses médicales d’urgence nécessaires, quitte à assumer un retard.

The ground-based medical service provider will evaluate the passenger’s condition and symptoms, and recommend the best course of action. They will also coordinate with the local authorities and hospitals to arrange for medical care upon landing, if needed.

During a medical emergency on board, crews follow established steps: Assess the situation, provide immediate aid using the aircraft's medical kit, and communicate with ground medical support if available. Coordination among crew members ensures proper care while maintaining passenger safety. Considering the severity of the condition and proximity to suitable airports, pilots, in conjunction with the airline's operations, may decide to divert the flight. Upon diversion, the aircraft lands at the nearest suitable airport, where medical assistance awaits the arrival to tend to the affected passenger.

A very important person is being left out of this, the aircraft dispatcher. Medical diversions are one of the many areas where the aircraft dispatcher becomes an integral part of the decision making process. After all, it’s the captain AND the aircraft dispatcher that exercise JOINT operational control over the flight. While the dispatcher is monitoring the call between the flight attendants and the medical provider, they will simultaneously be looking for suitable airports that would allow the flight to potentially divert to safely.

La decisión sobre el Aeropuerto de desvío , por la tripulación , implica además una valoración por el OCC de la línea aérea (centro de control de operaciones ) de los efectos sobre las pérdidas de conexiones de pasajeros y mínimizar el tiempo de escala ya que hay que buscar el equipaje del enfermo y carga de combustible adicional. Desde el punto de vista operativo , analizar si el peso al aterrizaje excede del peso máximo certificado y de la eyección de combustible en caso de que la aeronave tenga ese sistema , ya que si no es posible , el tiempo de espera para consumo de combustible puede ser hasta superior del previsto hasta el punto de destino original .

Contact Flight Dispatch to have them (help) set up suitable diversion based on available and appropriate ground medical support.

Diversions simply put are a deviation from the original intent, while it’s never planned, the situation may dictate itself in a medical emergency, which should already have been planned ahead. While not every airport is suitable it can sometimes require planning on the go. Ensure you use all resources when selecting your diversion, most importantly get comfortable with the plan that is developing. If uncomfortable don’t go past your personal minimums, ensure proper calculations are made but don’t rush. Do not just select but ensure it will be a smooth transition from the original plan.

Handling a medical emergency on board involves immediate assessment by the flight crew who seek assistance among passengers and communicate with ground medical services. Trained crew members provide initial first aid using onboard medical kits. Coordination among crew ensures effective management while maintaining communication with the flight deck. Passengers are assisted for comfort and safety, and if necessary, the flight may divert to the nearest suitable airport for medical help. Qualified medical professionals among passengers or onboard telemedicine links provide additional support. Detailed records of the incident and actions taken are maintained for post-incident reporting.

La tripulación está entrenada para actuar en estos casos, incluso para llevar a cabo técnicas de atención básica como RCP, o similares, cómo se describe en este artículo. No obstante, por grave que sea la emergencia, no puede perderse de vista lo que siempre ha de preponderar, por encima de la humanidad, la empatía y la voluntad de ayudar: ante todo, la seguridad del vuelo ha de priorizarse siempre, incluso a costa de la vida de un pasajero: puede ser la suya, o la de muchas más personas. Esto es esencial incluso en misiones HEMS o de rescate: safety first, siempre. Y es un aspecto a inculcar en todos los entrenamientos del personal.

Tout est mis en ?uvre pour faciliter un atterrissage d’urgence: le contr?le aérien gérera les priorités et le service de sécurité incendie de l’aéroport seront prêts à intervenir au pied de l’avion.

A medical emergency is very crucial and every second matters. On arrival at the gate the Pilot should inform where the passenger requiring assistance is seated as the ground handlers can coordinate and position the required equipment’s ladder and ambulance on near to that exit(Forward or Aft of the Airplane) this will save a lot of time as the passenger can be disembarked swiftly and the medical services can be provided ASAP.

In serious situations, the airplane might land at the nearest airport so the sick person can get more help from doctors on the ground. The goal is always to make sure everyone is safe and receives the care they need. The flight crew is trained to handle different medical situations and will do their best to assist passengers in case of an emergency

Handling a medical emergency on an aircraft involves immediate response by trained crew, assessing the situation, and using onboard medical kits. Crew communicates with pilots, seeks ground-based medical advice if necessary, and gathers passenger medical history. If needed, the pilot may divert the flight to the nearest suitable airport. Post-landing, the crew coordinates with ground medical services for immediate transfer of the affected passenger and documents the incident. Airlines may follow up with the passenger and medical professionals to ensure well-being and gather additional information.

As an expedition medicine doctor, I've learned these lessons from in-flight emergencies: Risk assessment: 13 of my colleagues were potentially exposed to TB on a long flight. The airline refused to identify the seat of the potential contact, which sparked a year of monitoring. Remember, crisis can linger. Improvise with what you have: When a passenger had a suspected heart attack, I used aspirin from fellow flyers to impede clot propagation and prevent further damage until landing Patient management: During that heart attack, I explained the situation and offered reassurance of immediate care on landing. Your calm presence matters as much as your medical skills Bottom line: Consider risk, adapt and remain calm during an in-air emergency

Aviate, navigate, communicate. Aviate - Above all, fly the airplane. The outcome of a critical situation can be very much decided from the first reaction a pilot takes. As soon as a situation arises, take control Navigate - knowing where you are is crucial. What ground assets are nearby? Suitable areas of an off field forced landing, who on the ground can help in this eventuality? Communicate - ATC is your friend. In a PAN or MAYDAY situation they are always going to make allowances, no matter what restrictions apply. Communicating your problem and intentions will become crucial in troubleshooting, and search and rescue

Medical emergencies do not always happen while airborne. They can or will happen when on the ground and you have to be ready to spring into action when it does. There are situations where a pilot is simply sitting on the apron waiting for gate, or on a taxiway waiting for takeoff and out of nowhere: the medical emergency happens. Once the pilot notifies you, you have to bring into action. On top of making sure you notify all of the appropriate agencies about it, you also need to come up with alternative parking plans if that gate is unavailable and if you have the ability to do so.

Any kind of emergency in flight operations shall be identified and then documented into Emergency Response Procedure which then need to be trained and exercised regularly by all flight crews and the ERT (Team). This will include in-flight medical emergency. The ERP will become the guidance for the actions to be taken. Another thing that need to be importantly considered and prepared by the aircraft operator is "budgeting". All kind of emergency will certainly increase the cost of operation. You can imagine when there's an in-flight medical emergency that need the pilot to divert the flight and land on certain airport and further need the ground medical support services, refuel, etc. Many bills will pop out on the next days to come.

In-flight medical emergencies demand precise Crew Resource Management (CRM) from cabin and flight deck crews. Rapid and accurate communication is pivotal, with cabin crew acting as crucial intermediaries. Clear protocols for relaying medical information ensure swift response coordination. CRM principles aid in managing stress, refining decision-making, and maintaining situational awareness during emergencies. Regular training fosters a well-coordinated team, capable of navigating the technicalities of medical equipment and procedures. In essence, CRM proficiency ensures not only individual competence but a synchronized collaboration that is paramount for effective response to medical crises at high altitudes, securing passenger well-being.

Different airlines may have different protocols and equipment for dealing with medical emergencies onboard. Therefore, it is important to check with your airline before you travel, and to inform them of any pre-existing medical conditions or special needs that you may have. Safe flight.