Originally Posted by
FlyingDoctorwu
yep, my neighbor was there... though she is a nephrologist subspecialist which means almost useless in medical emergency....
A paramedic is probably one of the best responders to an inflight emergency.. also a firefighters.. these are the folks that re used to frontline field work....
let's face it; most physicians aren't well equipped for hands on field work.... I wouldn't want a brain surgeon anywhere near me during an inflight emergency...
that all being said, the physicians I would want would be an ER, intensivisit or anesthesiologist... these are the docs that are used to handling the ABCs of medicine on a hands on basis
FDW
I wasn't on a flight but I was with 2 friends (one firefighter and one a neurosurgeon) during an emergency at a trail race. The firefighter took the lead and the doctor was really an extra set of hands for him. It wasn't an issue at all just because of the reality of their jobs. We talked about it later that night. The last time the doctor had inserted an IV was during medical school and another team always preps his patients for surgery. The firefighter is usually first on scene and stabilizing outside of a hospital until they can hand off to a paramedic.
If you're in the air over land, that's probably what you're really hoping for... stabilize until you can land and get to the hospital.