So, what happens when there is an in-flight medical emergency on an airline flight?
It’s an interesting question that many of us have probably not thought much about before. But it happens, probably more frequently than we realize.
What if There’s a Medical Emergency on an Airline Flight?
We take a look at risk mitigation from the pilot’s perspective.
Key Takeaways:
- Airlines equip flights with medical kits ranging from basic first aid to advanced medications (for use by onboard medical professionals), AEDs, and oxygen, aiming to stabilize patients until they can reach ground medical services.
- The decision to divert a flight for a medical emergency is complex and primarily made by ground-based airline operations centers and flight surgeons, who communicate with the flight crew, with certain severe conditions triggering an immediate diversion.
- Flight crews are trained in risk management during such emergencies, splitting duties between flying the aircraft and managing communication, and follow a protocol where a passenger is not officially pronounced dead until transferred to ground medical services.
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