Thursday, October 11, 2012

Medical Emergency in the Air

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee

On a recent trip from Istanbul Turkey, I was able to witness how well equipped airplanes, the attendants and crew are to handle medical emergencies. When we fly we never know what will happen. One of the worst situation is when a passenger becomes sick during a flight. On my Turkish Air flight back to NYC a passenger was experiencing seizures across from where I was seated. The flight attendants immediately asked on the loudspeaker for medical assistance from any doctor on board. Incredibly, three doctors immediately went to the woman's seat to consult with the friend who she was traveling with and the flight attendants assisted the doctors any way they could.

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Airplanes are equipped with metal suitcases filled with essential medical supplies. The flight attendants were able to provide the doctors with most of the things they need to treat a patient. As the sick passenger's friend, flight attendants, passengers, watched the doctor treat the patient I thought how lucky we were to have so many doctors on board this flight. I wouldn't want to imagine what would happen if there were no doctors on board the airplane, didn't have an oxygen tank and I.V. to treat the patient with. It brings to mind the question of how and what flight attendants and crew are trained to handle for medical emergencies should there be no doctors on board.

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee

Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
Copyright 2012 Rosa Lee
It was interesting to observe firsthand how human kindness, ethics, and curiosity influence our behavior during an emergency situation. All the attendants, crew, passengers were first and foremost concerned for the sick passenger and gave any aid they could provide. Passengers changed seats so the sick passenger could be relocated to the center seats where she could lay down. Doctors immediately came to the call of duty. Flight attendants and crew immediately located supplies and alerted authorities to be ready once we land to take the sick passenger to a hospital should that be necessary. Although there were many who came to the sick passenger's aid, people are also curious and there were passengers who walked by and nearby ones who looked to see what was happening. Myself, I debated whether or not to document this event as it was happening. I came to the conclusion that as a reportage artist this is something important to report, what happens during a medical emergency on a flight.

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