Ive responded to a couple incidents on flights ive been on (syncopal episode and chest pain events) however there isnt much I can do as a paramedic other than o2 and vital signs since im not working under medical direction. The chest pain pt the best I could recommend was that we divert due to lack of ekg capability on board to determine if the pt was a STEMI or not.

I have helped out a few times (5 or 6). Resources are few when in the air. Most times a bit of reassurance is all that is needed. I never diverted a flight (probably prevented one or two) but a request for a quick landing (for someone having seizures and another one with chest pain) made for quite a rapid one. :)

All's well that ends
 

Lucky positive outcome - this time the guy was wearing multiple layers and over heated - in addition to being anemic and having low blood sugar. An apple juice later and after removing several layers of clothing he seemed much more jovial than earlier when he was passed out on the floor.

I would hate to think of a loved one lying on the cold hard floor of an airplane without someone aboard able to take medically necessary actions to save their life.
This little guy survived and spent the remainder of the 5 hour flight yammering with the FA's.

Once responded to a medical call on a plane going to HNL. The lady had taken too much of a blood pressure med. The other person who responded was a Paramedic and when asked by the crew if they needed to divert he answered... "No they have morgues in Hawaii"

She was fine after they got her legs up and some food on her stomach.

When was this? Is the partnership with UPMC new?

I think NW used Mayo Clinic.

Alright, give me a Hamm on five, hold the Mayo

Of course, I should have thought of that.

As a first aid instructor I'm at the bottom of the totem pole and have never assisted. Yet in over 750k BIS miles only twice was any medical personnel paged, and only one landing (to RNO on a SFO-SLC flight).

I am an OBGYN and have responded three times in the past twelve months on that "other" carrier (US) -- I was stunned to see how bare they kept their cupboards! Only once was it a truly emergent issue and we just hit the throttle and hauled tail into our destination (SRQ). There are so many seniors living there that I found the response team to be very familiar with the routine!!

Has anyone ever received even a simple THANK YOU from the flight crew for assisting another passenger in distress? I cannot tell you how far hearing that simple phrase would go for me. I am sure things would be different on DL.

TPAC flights seem to be the most frequent for me. Just 2-3 instances on Domestic flights, and none on TATL.

I like to scan the boarding area prior to boarding to see who will be the one on the TPAC flights. Happens on either direction.

The one time I responded (on a PDX-ATL flight and we diverted to, if I remember, Tulsa) I was heaped praise by the crew. Once we took off again for ATL the FAs "insisted" I take 4 bottles of Jack Daniels and 2 Glenlivets. Not that I want them to get into any trouble as they are probably not allowed me to take booze off the plane.

Once in ATL after missing my connection to CDG I was hoping for an op-up but no luck (although I did get seated in an exit row). This was before I had any status. A few weeks later I got a nice letter from Delta and a $150 credit.

Ha! I do the same thing on dive boats!

On dive boats, I scan to make sure I am not paired up with the noobies who can't even make a bottom time of >30 minutes.


However, I am rarely in places diving where I have to stay with a buddy (same ocean, same day???), or have a dive time given. Heck, I don't really dive where there are any dive briefings anymore. :)

Yes, the time I was patched through to the Mayo Clinic was on NWA. Also, now that I think about the paperwork was all on NWA. It was about 2 pages. I don't think I have had to do any paperwork for Delta.