Where To Go Next for Wednesday, March 26

Today's Travel News

On Board Medical Emergencies

By Judi Janofsky

Last weekend, the New York Times ran a story about in-flight emergencies. Like what happens if you have a heart attack or a stroke onboard a jet 30,000 feet above the earth?

I hadn’t thought about it before reading this article which stated that MedAire, a company that provides medical advice to the cabin crews of 74 airlines, received over 17,000 in-flight calls last year. They also said that “649 planes were diverted for medical reasons and 97 people died onboard.”

What’s really scary is that while the airlines carry first-aid kits with stethoscopes and syringes, the flight crew of most American carriers is not supposed to use them, or even give out aspirin, unless directed by a medical professional. They can, however, use the defibrillator and administer oxygen. But apparently that’s it.

So what can passengers do to avoid becoming an in-flight fatality? Other than fly with your own doctor, or improve your odds by flying on more savvy International carriers such as Lufthansa which is in the process of testing a system that can transmit vital signs, including electrocardiograms to doctors on the ground,

Here is some basic advice:

-- If you’re not feeling well and have any kind of history of bad health, don’t fly unless you’ve been checked out by your doctor.

-- If you have any medical condition that requires medication, be sure to take it with you in your carry-on bag.

-- If you have a choice, fly American Airlines. They have their own doctors on the ground to help in-flight crews; their first aid kits include additional medications and their flight attendants also undergo training on the use of CPR and defibrillators once a year instead of the FAA required two years.

-- Stay hydrated. Carry water with you on the plane and drink it instead of alcohol which can raise your blood pressure.

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