EMERGENCY MEDICINE AND THE AIRLINE PASSENGER

1 January 1980

journal article
research article

Vol. 51 (9) , 918-922

Abstract

In the 12 mo. period Oct. 1, 1978-Sept. 30, 1979, USA airlines carried 318 million passengers as revealed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Out of every 1 million passengers, 1 may be deplaned by an unscheduled landing due to a life-threatening medical emergency. The time required for airline aircraft to make an unscheduled landing can be an hour or more, especially for wide-body jet aircraft. Immediate emergency care, including first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, must be available for a high level of occupant safety. In-flight emergencies and some simple and effective techniques suitable for in-flight operations are described. Training flight attendants to deal with in-flight medical emergencies and to use first-aid support equipment and essential and useful drugs may later help with stabilization of a victim and allow continuing the flight to the scheduled destination, obviating the need for a diverted landing with all of the associated potential flight hazards, inconveniences, fuel wastage and increased costs.

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