An Overview of In-flight Medical Care / 항공우주의학회지

Medical issues in the air such as in-flight deaths, diversions, deliveries have gained increasing publicity. In-flight medical emergencies are expected to increase because air travel continues to expand and as more elderly or invalid passengers often wish to fly long distances. The protection of passenger health is an important obligation of airlines. Most airlines have prepared many resources for in-flight medical care. Resources may include emergency medical kits including medications, portable oxygen bottles and automated external defibrillator (AED), trained flight attendants with available in-flight medical care. Furthermore, air to ground communication systems are prepared. Although the number of serious medical events is very small, despite increased airline's efforts, physician passengers are occasionally called upon to care for the ill or injured passengers at any time. Medical liability has always been in the mind of physicians called upon to treat a patient in-flight. Therefore, fear of liability is cited as a major reason for physicians reluctance to offer assistance. New legislation that would require all commercial flights to carry AEDs should also include a "Good Samaritan" provision that exempts from liability physicians who step forward to offer assistance in-flight medical emergency. Physicians take an important role in case of in-flight medical emergencies. This paper describes the multiple in-flight resources to be used by physician passengers who is called upon to help passengers in the cabin.

Managing In-flight Medical Emergency

In-flight medical emergencies are likely to increase as air travel continues to grow and as more elderly passengers with preexisting diseases fly long distances. Unscheduled landing for a medical reason is a serious situation for commercial air carriers. The common causes of unscheduled landings are cardiac and neurological problems. Physician passengers might be called upon to help ill or injured passengers at any time. Physicians play an important role in in-flight medical emergencies. Most airlines have installed the emergency medical kits and automated external defibrillator (AED), ambu bag, intubation set, etc. The management of in-flight medical emergences requires the assistance from welltrained crew, adequate medical equipments and medications, availability of physician passengers, and ground medical communications. This article summarizes the in-flight resources available for physician passengers when called upon for medical emergencies while on board.