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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 2:38 pm
  #1  
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Question for Flight Crew

My flight had a medical emergency as we were on landing descent.
I overheard flight attendant say "if it had happened a few minutes earlier, we'd have to go around."
Is that true or did I misunderstand?
TIA
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 2:56 pm
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I am not a flight crew. But I believe that sounds correct.

In any case of medical needs, the first step is assessment. Without assessing the patient, landing is an immature decision, unless the flight is in process of landing.

FWIW - just because you call am ambulance, it does not mean the ambulance will transport you to the emergency care facility immediately.
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 3:51 pm
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But why would they have aborted a scheduled landing to stay in the air longer? Thus delaying assessment by paramedics.
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 4:10 pm
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Without knowing the specific medical condition, it is impossible to say.

Someone with a possible spine fracture might need to be immobilized before landing and that takes time.

Speed is not always the answer.
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 4:49 pm
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Immobilized by who?
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 5:48 pm
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Originally Posted by jamgirl
But why would they have aborted a scheduled landing to stay in the air longer? Thus delaying assessment by paramedics.
Because not every medical condition warrants for immediate landing. For example, if a pregnant woman is in labor in air, unless there is any complication, it is best to have the baby delivered first.

Airlines have access to professional medical advice, as well as its flight crews are trained for first-aid. So they are trained to handle issues like this.

In term of the paramedic, in the best case scenario, it will take a plane about 5 minutes to land and the paramedic can be met. Those 5 minutes could mean life or death to a person. On that basis, paramedic is secondary compare to those who can offer assistance.
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 6:36 pm
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Okay, you're trolling right? This was not an emergency landing. If you read OP, plane was coming in for scheduled landing at destination.
I'm asking for a flight attendant or pilot to respond, is there a policy to abort landing
and fly around.. flight attendant or pilot please
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 6:57 pm
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And I am out of here...
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 7:03 pm
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Originally Posted by jamgirl
Okay, you're trolling right? This was not an emergency landing. If you read OP, plane was coming in for scheduled landing at destination.
I'm asking for a flight attendant or pilot to respond, is there a policy to abort landing
and fly around.. flight attendant or pilot please
What was the nature of the medical emergency?

Unless you have the details, nobody can possibly answer your question other than to tell you what you have been told above by several people, e.g., it depends on the emergency as to whether the aircraft would continue to land or stay airborne to first stabilize the patient.
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Old Feb 8, 2021 | 10:57 pm
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Originally Posted by jamgirl
But why would they have aborted a scheduled landing to stay in the air longer? Thus delaying assessment by paramedics.
Just one single example... heart attack. Needs immediate attention and that can't be done while landing and braking on runway. Everyone in the aisle helping would likely be thrown forward and injured. Better to stay airborne, administer aid (shocking heart, start IV etc) and then land.

Again, just one single example. Every situation would be different.
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Old Feb 9, 2021 | 7:31 am
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It would be situational. As a Captain, I would weigh what is best for the safety of all my passengers, as well as the medical emergency. Not sure what the FA meant about a go around. In a situation like this, we declare an emergency and land ASAP, provided it was safe to do so.
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Old Feb 9, 2021 | 8:34 am
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Originally Posted by jamgirl
I'm asking for a flight attendant or pilot to respond, is there a policy to abort landing and fly around.. flight attendant or pilot please
No. We'd continue the landing. I can't think of any reason why we'd stay in the air longer because of a passenger medical emergency.
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