Is There a Doctor on the Plane?

Summary by: Joe Lex

How Common Are In-Flight Emergencies?
• Occur on one in every 600 flights
• 44,000 of 2.75B airline passengers / year

What Are Most Common Emergencies
• Lightheadedness or fainting ~37%
• Respiratory problems ~12%
• Nausea or vomiting ~10%
• Cardiac symptoms ~8%
• Seizures ~6%
• Other Emergencies
• Laceration ~0.3%
• Cardiac arrest ~0.3%
• Ear pain ~0.4%
• Obstetrical or gynecological symptoms ~0.5%
• Headache ~1%

Who Responds to the Call?
• Physician passenger responds in ~48%
• Nurse passenger responds in ~20%
• EMT passenger responds in ~5%

Minimum first aid kits on commercial airliners
16 Adhesive bandage compressors, 1 in
20 Antiseptic Swabs
10 Ammonia Inhalants
8 Bandage compressors, 4 in
5 Triangular bandage compressors, 40 in
1 Arm splint, non inflatable
1 Leg splint, non inflatable
4 Roller bandage, 4 in
2 Adhesive tape, 1 in standard roll
1 Bandage Scissors
2 Protective latex gloves pair
2 Insect sting relief pad
2 Triple antibiotic ointment
2 First Aid/burn cream, 9 gm.
2 Povidone iodine infection control wipes
2 Alcohol cleansing pads
2 Gauze dressing pad 2″ x 2″ in
2 Motion Sickness Tab
4 Ibuprofen tablets
4 Non Aspirin Tablets
2 Sunscreen lotion towelette
2 Trauma pads 5 x 9 in (12,7 x 22,8 cm)
1 Survival rescue blanket
1 Pelican case 1170 waterproof
1 Emergency first aid guide (American Red Cross)

Required medications on flights
• Antihistamine – tablets and injectable
• Atropine 0.5 mg injectable
• Aspirin tablets 325mg
• Bronchodilator MDI
• Dextrose 50% injectable
• Epinephrine 1:1000 and 1:10,000
• Nitroglycerin tablets
• Lidocaine injectable
• IV needle
• 500ml Saline injectable

All crewmembers are trained for common emergencies. For each flight attendant
¥ Instruction to include performance drills in the proper use of automated external defibrillators
¥ Instruction to include performance drills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
¥ Recurrent training … at least once every 24 months

Emergency landing of domestic flight costs $30,000; international flight costs $70,000 to $230,000