Do airlines have doctors?

In addition to onboard medical kits, services like MedAire and STAT-MD provide flight crews with physicians to guide them in evaluating and stabilizing passengers who are having medical episodes on board or even on the ground before a flight.



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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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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.

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This doesn't mean that it's a life-or-death situation; it's all just part of the process. Research has shown that there are doctors onboard as many as 70% of all commercial flights, so the chances of someone being present are pretty high.

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The most common in-flight medical emergencies involve:
  • Seizures;
  • Cardiac symptoms;
  • Nausea or vomiting;
  • Respiratory problems and.
  • Lightheadedness or fainting.


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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.

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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.

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Who should not travel by air? Diseases that prevent you from boarding a plane
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • A recent stroke.
  • Infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, influenza or even COVID-19.
  • A recent surgery.
  • A pregnancy of over 28 weeks.
  • Angina (chest pain at rest)


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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.

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Pharmacological treatment They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax). Motion sickness medication, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).

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7 Tips for Traveling with Chronic Pain
  1. Get a Massage Before, During, and After to Help Your Body Adjust! ...
  2. Take Your Own Travel Pillow! ...
  3. Don't Forget to Pack Your Favorite Tune-up Therapy Balls or a Tennis Ball! ...
  4. Help Relieve Chronic Pain by Getting Quality Sleep. ...
  5. Make Sure to Pack Your Analgesic Cremes or Pain Meds.


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Over-the-counter Medication Flight 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.

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Medication is usually screened by X-ray; however, if a passenger does not want a medication X-rayed, he or she may ask for a visual inspection instead. This request must be made before any items are sent through the X-ray tunnel.

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The flight attendants will assess the situation by asking the passenger to describe their symptoms, assuming they are lucid and conscious. Depending on the case, they will administer care themselves or consult with a medical professional on board or on the ground.

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If you were to experience a stroke on a plane, the pilot may attempt to make an emergency landing to get you the emergency medical attention you need.

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During An In-Flight Emergency Here'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.

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Flight nurses are responsible for checking vitals, keeping records, administering medication, performing medical procedures, and more. Often aircrafts will have flight physicians that nurses assist in caring for patients, but in the event that there is no flight physician on board, a flight nurse takes charge.

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