Read on Twitter
On the busiest #travel day of the year, let's talk about in-flight emergencies! #Thanksgiving 1/
In flight emergencies happen in about one in every 600 flights. Risks for in flight emergencies are due to passengers and to the planes themselves. 2/ https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2719313
Passengers:
-Forget to bring medications
-Don't drink enough water
-May not eat enough before the flight
-Go a little heavy on the booze 3/
-Forget to bring medications
-Don't drink enough water
-May not eat enough before the flight
-Go a little heavy on the booze 3/
Meanwhile, the plane is:
-A little dry-->dehydration, and hypotension
-Has slightly lower oxygen levels-->
-Requires you to sit-->risk of DVT and PE
-Has the pressure of 5000 ft altitude-->discomfort in sinusitis
-Small space-->transmission of infections 4/
-A little dry-->dehydration, and hypotension
-Has slightly lower oxygen levels-->
-Requires you to sit-->risk of DVT and PE
-Has the pressure of 5000 ft altitude-->discomfort in sinusitis
-Small space-->transmission of infections 4/
The most common causes of in-flight emergencies are:
Lightheadedness or fainting (37.4% of emergencies);
Respiratory problems (12.1%);
Nausea or vomiting (9.5%);
Cardiac symptoms (7.7%); and
Seizures (5.8%). 5/ https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2013/05/31/the-most-common-in-flight-medical-emergencies
Lightheadedness or fainting (37.4% of emergencies);
Respiratory problems (12.1%);
Nausea or vomiting (9.5%);
Cardiac symptoms (7.7%); and
Seizures (5.8%). 5/ https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2013/05/31/the-most-common-in-flight-medical-emergencies
So what do you have on board to respond?
1) Flight attendants, trained in CPR and AEDs
2) Access to ground-based medical crew on US-based flights
3) An emergency kit (which can vary by airline). 6/
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1409213
1) Flight attendants, trained in CPR and AEDs
2) Access to ground-based medical crew on US-based flights
3) An emergency kit (which can vary by airline). 6/
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1409213
If you are offering assistance, introduce yourself to the attendants and passenger, offer your qualifications, and if possible, ask the patient's permission. 7/
If you are a passenger and don't want to have an emergency:
-Pack extra medication
-Drink lots of water
-Carry a list of your diagnoses, medications, and PCP number
-Take it easy on the booze 8/
-Pack extra medication
-Drink lots of water
-Carry a list of your diagnoses, medications, and PCP number
-Take it easy on the booze 8/
Responding to emergencies on flights is not required in the US (though it is in some other countries). But I would argue that we have a duty to respond. Or as Dr. Amit Chandra told me "This is why physicians have a special place in society. We are obligated to help." 9/
Happy Gobble Gobble! You can read more about in-flight emergencies here 10/10
https://www.drpoorman.org/my-writing/2017/12/14/how-doctors-think-about-in-flight-medical-emergencies
https://www.drpoorman.org/my-writing/2017/12/14/how-doctors-think-about-in-flight-medical-emergencies
