In-flight medical emergencies

Abstract

We entirely agree with Danielle Silverman and Mark Gendreau1Silverman D Gendreau M Medical issues associated with commercial flights.Lancet. 2009; 373: 2067-2077Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (171) Google Scholar that data on medical in-flight emergencies are scarce. In our study, we asked 32 European airlines to provide anonymous data on in-flight medical emergencies; 28 were unable to provide the required data backed by adequate medical flight reports.2Sand M Bechara FG Sand D Mann B Surgical and medical emergencies on board European aircraft: a retrospective study of 10189 cases.Crit Care. 2009; 13: R3Crossref PubMed Scopus (62) Google Scholar An international database documenting in-flight medical emergencies in a standardised manner could improve preventive strategies by assisting preflight medical assessment.3Ruskin KJ In-flight medical emergencies: time for a registry?.Crit Care. 2009; 13: 121Crossref PubMed Scopus (21) Google Scholar Further, it would promote standardisation of the contents of medical flight kits, which currently vary extensively. In Europe, the regulations applicable to commercial air transportation are published by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). The specifications for the typical contents of emergency medical kits seems very precise according to Silverman and Gendreau's panel 3, but unfortunately this does not reflect the recommendations published in the joint aviation requirements by the JAA.4European Joint Aviation AuthoritiesJAR-OPS1, commercial air transportation (aeroplanes). Global Engineering Documents, Englewood2003Google Scholar These recommendations are rather loosely formulated in terms of equipment and medication, giving airlines broad leeway in assembling their medical flight kits while fulfilling the letter of the law. In our study, we also compared the medical flight kit of a large national European airline with that of a low-cost (no-frills) carrier.2Sand M Bechara FG Sand D Mann B Surgical and medical emergencies on board European aircraft: a retrospective study of 10189 cases.Crit Care. 2009; 13: R3Crossref PubMed Scopus (62) Google Scholar The national airline had excellent equipment, intravenous medications, and an automated external defibrillator on board, whereas the medical flight kit of the low-cost carrier had only basic equipment without any intravenous medication or indwelling venous canulas. Our findings reflect the variations from carrier to carrier addressed by Silverman and Gendreau.1Silverman D Gendreau M Medical issues associated with commercial flights.Lancet. 2009; 373: 2067-2077Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (171) Google Scholar It would therefore seem obvious for some airlines to reassess their medical flight kits with regard to their responsibilities to passengers' safety, despite economic pressures. We declare that we have no conflicts of interest.