A doctor may not always be seated in the cabin on your flight, but most commercial airlines are aware that in-flight medical emergencies can happen (I've written about one or two such instances myself in my time at USA TODAY). Most carriers contract with on-the-ground experts in emergency medicine at altitude.
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A trained physician is aboard just about 11 of every 12 flights. The New England Journal of Medicine discovered that in-flight medical emergencies are rare to begin with.
Medical emergencies occur on ˜1 of every 604 flights. The most common emergencies include syncope or presyncope, respiratory symptoms, or nausea and vomiting. For 90% of these emergencies, aircraft continue to their destination.
Over-the-counter MedicationFlight attendants also have access to many over-the-counter medications, from painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to antidiarrheals, so feel free to request these items.
The air pressure while flying increases the risk of blood clots forming, which is not ideal. Heart complications: If you've suffered a heart attack, stroke, cardiac failure or chest pain while at rest, flying should wait. The lower oxygen levels, increased air pressure, high altitude and more could affect your health.
Infectious diseases – If you have the measles, flu, chickenpox, or any other infectious disease, you are advised not to fly until you have been cleared by your doctor.
Other on-board providersOther physicians, nurses, and prehospital providers are often also on board. Responding physicians can also request the assistance of these other healthcare providers. Flight attendants in the United States are required to be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The Federal Aviation Administration requires commercial aircraft to carry at least one sealed emergency medical kit containing a minimum of 25 specified instruments and medications, plus first-aid kits and automated external defibrillators.
Most times the airline just absorbs the costs as the cost of doing business and ultimately passengers pay the costs as they will be built into ticket prices. In some cases an airline may pursue a civil case against the passenger.
Many airlines typically work with emergency medical service providers such as MedAire's MedLink or Stat MD. These service providers can be contacted during the flight using a satellite phone. Direct communication with an emergency room or trauma center is also possible.
Directs and assists passengers in emergency procedures, such as evacuating a plane following an emergency landing. Prepares passengers and aircraft for landing, following procedures. Administers first aid to passengers in distress.
During An In-Flight EmergencyHere's a rule to live by: Fly the airplane! No matter what the emergency (engine failure, fire, structural failure), fly the airplane. Maintain control and fly it all the way to the ground, if necessary.
Although not legally required to render assistance in the event of a medical emergency aboard an airplane, physicians have an ethical obligation to do so and should be prepared.
The first thing to know is that off-duty doctors and other medical professionals are not legally required to help if a medical emergency arises on an airplane; however, there may be an ethical duty to intervene, as described in a 2015 article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Consequently, to this day, their successor U.S. Air Force Flight Surgeons are considered aeronautically rated aircrew members who receive flight pay and who are required to fly a certain number of hours monthly.
The safest rule is not to fly while suffering from any illness. If this rule is considered too stringent for a particular illness, the pilot should contact an aviation medical examiner for advice.
Airlines have the right to refuse to carry passengers with conditions that may worsen. If the crew believes a passenger may have serious consequences during the flight, the passenger can be stopped.
Generally speaking, flying with a cold or the flu isn't worth the risk. When you're tired, sick, or distracted, you're not at the top of your game, and flying just isn't a good idea. Even if you only have slight symptoms, it's better to stay grounded than to put yourself or others in danger by flying.