Airline travel is safe and reasonably comfortable, but many factors including psychological stress, circadian misalignment, and pre-existing illness can cause a passenger to become sick while flying. At the same time, factors such as increasing passenger load, especially on large airplanes combined with ultra-long duration flights further increase the probability that a medical emergency will occur during flight. In-flight medical emergencies (IMEs) are common and occur in a complex environment with limited medical resources. In-flight medical emergencies present many challenges to physicians and other medical professionals as well as the cabin crew and flight crews. Understanding the pathophysiology of these events will help anyone who comes to the aid of a sick passenger. When an in-flight medical emergency occurs, immediate access to care is limited. Cabin crews are trained to provide first aid and limited medical assistance but are not qualified to deal with all potential situations. It is therefore critical that airlines have protocols in place for actions to be taken in the event of an on-board medical emergency.

Shalini Menon

7 resources

2

113

4

Like