Published
I found this article somewhat helpful. The Clinician's Guide to In-Flight Emergencies - MPR
When I hear that call on a plane I actually hide. One time, after another nurse stood up..... The attendant came back and asked if anyone could start an IV ( the other nurse was a retired manager) I did go to help at that point..... It was kind of cool. They had a doc giving orders...they printed out...and they had everything in little cases.... Of course the person had just finished chemo for breast cancer and had, had a mastectomy...she had no veins! I had to crouch down between the seats and use a 22 gage IV but I got it first try. I didn't think I could get anything bigger into those tiny little spidery veins ...... I don't think anyone recorded it....I was almost sitting on the floor of the plane..... But everyone did clap when the attendant yelled "she got it!" Of course I didn't have a copy of my nursing license, they wanted that...... But it wasn't too bad, but I was shaking afterwards. The guy next to me bought me a drink after we landed and dropped the pt off.
As an ER Nurse and Paramedic I was returning home from a conference when a call was made on the flight. I waited until they asked a second time and I got up. No one was filming to my knowledge. It was a younger adult who just had a near syncopal episode. Nothing flashy. There was a medical control contact who was on the radio with the flight attendant. I gave the attendant my assessment findings and the vitals. She relayed that to ground control and they just told her to have us monitor the patient until we felt their situation was resolved.
They had me fill out a card and I got a $500 credit on my next flight. I never used it since I never fly with that airline and it wasn't transferrable. I did however get a handful of mini bottles from the attendant and the guys in my isle who I was previously chatting with had replenished my jack and coke with a double. It was a good ending to a boring Joint Commission conference!
I am of the opinion that I do not want to take any actions anywhere outside of an active shooter and that's primarily because I carry a handgun and am an expert marksman with previous tactical qualifications, plus doesn't everyone want to stop a killer?
No first aid, CPR, is there a doctor on the plane, patching up sprained ankles at sporting events, stopping at wrecks, etc. When I was a younger guy I used to do that kind of crap. I used to be a qualified paramedic when I was in law enforcement although I had only a total of about 500 working hours with an ambulance service. Mostly I held the skill for ERT. People seeking help can be an ambush as well. Take care of yourself and family.
Btw, I used to get videoed at times serving warrants and at felony stops, etc. That was before everything was uploaded directly to YouTube. To my knowledge, the only YouTube videos I've been in are the ones I made back when I had my prepping channel.
I am of the opinion that I do not want to take any actions anywhere outside of an active shooter and that's primarily because I carry a handgun and am an expert marksman with previous tactical qualifications, plus doesn't everyone want to stop a killer?No first aid, CPR, is there a doctor on the plane, patching up sprained ankles at sporting events, stopping at wrecks, etc. When I was a younger guy I used to do that kind of crap. I used to be a qualified paramedic when I was in law enforcement although I had only a total of about 500 working hours with an ambulance service. Mostly I held the skill for ERT. People seeking help can be an ambush as well. Take care of yourself and family.
Btw, I used to get videoed at times serving warrants and at felony stops, etc. That was before everything was uploaded directly to YouTube. To my knowledge, the only YouTube videos I've been in are the ones I made back when I had my prepping channel.
I hear you. Mostly. I think I would have to give CPR to someone in need. But a sprained ankle, near syncope, panic attack....nuh-uh.
Read an article today that reminded me of this thread. Is there a doctor on board? In-flight medical emergencies | Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
GoodNP
208 Posts
Hi all. A colleague of mine recently responded to the "is there doctor on the plane?" call. Since I'll be doing some traveling soon, it has made me think. Particularly in this time of cell phones and videos. I, for one, do not want to be recorded in the act of being of a Good Samaritan. I'd love to hear accounts of how you've reacted when you hear that call on a plane.