You’re midway through a routine flight, when suddenly a passenger collapses clutching his chest and struggling to breathe. This is one of the situations that cabin crew are trained to deal with, and aircraft are equipped for. So what are some of the most common medical emergencies?
This event – a heart attack – is the leading cause of in-flight death, and the leading medical cause of diversions. Medical kits include aspirin and a vasodilator spray to keep blood flowing when there is chest pain. In case of cardiac arrest, cabin crew are trained to give CPR, while many airlines now also carry defibrillators to restart the heart. Cardiac monitors are use increasingly, so that data can be transmitted to medical advisors on the ground.