BePrepared for In-Flight Medical Emergencies

    An emergency physician isideally suited to volunteer to assist during an in-flight medical emergency.However, despite the professional training he has received, providing medicalassistance at 36,000 feet is nevertheless a daunting task. Lower air pressure, cramped quarters,and the roar of engine noise make an overcrowded county ED seem an ideal working environmentby comparison.

Common In-Flight Emergencies

Common emergenciesinclude chest pain, syncope, asthma exacerbation, and GIcomplaints. Long-haulair travel will increase the risk of deadly deep vein thrombosis, or so-called “economyclass syndrome”.

What's Available on a Flight?

FAA regulationsrequire all commercial airlines weighing 7,500 pounds or more and serviced byat least one flight attendant to carry a defibrillatorand an enhanced emergency medical kit. Flight attendants must be certified inCPR, including the use of an AED,every 2 years. Pilots must also be trained in the use of the AED.

The standard emergencymedical kit, which is based on recommendations for air transport, includes astethoscope, syringes and IV catheters in a rangeof sizes, and commonly used medications. While most domestic airlines carrythis kit, there are no international regulations requiring the complete kit tobe available.

What Are Your Options?

There are no federalregulations or guidelines on the management of an in-flight medical emergency.A growing number of airlines now utilize the services of remote emergencyresponse centres. If medically trained passengers volunteer their assistance,they are required to work with cabin crew and the response center's physician.If there is no call made to a call center, the volunteer physician must workwith cabin crew and can suggest treatment or diversionoptions.

Other Resources

Several organizationscurrently work in the field of aviation medicine, including AsMA, the International AirTransport Association (IATA), and the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO). Many members of these organizations have advocated in recent years fora registry of in-flight medical emergencies to assist with research, training,and quality improvement.

No matter how wellstocked the kits are, in-flight medical emergencies are inevitable given thesize of the commercial airline industry. For now, emergency physicians who arefrequent fliers can familiarize themselves with in-flight medical resources.And when it comes to responding to a medical emergency during commercial airtravel, expect the unexpected.

                        

New Words and Expressions

daunting['dɔ:ntɪŋ]                    adj.令人生畏的，令人却步的

cramped[kræmpt]                    adj.狭窄的

ED (EmergencyDepartment)              急诊室

syncope ['sɪŋkəpɪ]                     n.晕厥

asthma['æsmə]                       n.哮喘

exacerbation[ek,sæsə'beɪʃən]            n.加重，恶化

GI complaint                           胃肠道不适

thrombosis[θrɒm'bəʊsɪs]               n. 血栓

defibrillator[di'faibrileitə]              n. 除纤颤器

AED (AutomatedExternal Defibrillator)     自动体外除颤器

IV catheter                             静脉导管

diversion[daɪ'vɜːʃ(ə)n]                 n.备降

AsMA (Aerospace Medical Association)   <美国>航空与航天医学协会

 

Task 1 Go through the passage and complete the followingsentences with the information in the passage.

1. Commonemergencies include _______________, syncope, asthma exacerbation, and GIcomplaints.

2. Flightattendants must be certified in ____________, including the use of an ___________,every 2 years.

3. The standard emergency medical kit includes ______________,______________ and IV catheters in a range of sizes, and commonly usedmedications.

4. Ifmedically trained passengers volunteer their assistance, they are required towork with ________________ and the response center's _________________.

5. Manymembers of AsMA, IATA and ICAO have advocated in recent years for a registry ofin-flight medical emergencies to assist with _____________, ______________, andquality improvement.

 

Task 2 Work with your partners in small groups. Discussthe following questions.

1. Besides the common medical emergencies mentioned inthe passage, what other kinds of in-flight medical incidents do you have to deal with? Make a list of major and minor medical incidents.

2. What is the most serious in-flight medical emergencyyou have ever experienced? What happened? 

 

Learnmore professional terms for your further study.

diagnosis[,daɪəg'nəʊsɪs]                  n. 诊断

cardiac arrest                             心脏骤停

appendicitis[ə,pendɪ'saɪtɪs]                n. 阑尾炎

kidney stone                              肾结石

medical history                            病史

in a stablecondition                        情况稳定

recovery position                          恢复体位（等待进一步救治伤者或病人时采取的安全姿势）

pain killer                                止痛药

hospitalization[,hɒspɪtəlaɪ'zeɪʃən]           n. 住院治疗

emergency services                        紧急服务，应急服务