Three medical emergencies in three flights - how lucky are we?

[Warks]

Just got back this morning from our big anniversary trip to the US. Plenty more to report on that later.

In all my 30 years of flying I've probably had about three medical situations or emergencies on my flights that I know of, could be more but not much. Anyway about ten days ago we flew LGA-MCO (La Guardia-NYC to Orlando) and there was a woman who was very sick and they put out a call for a doctor/nurse/paramedic. There was a spare row at the back of the ('full') plane where she was looked after and she recovered enough not to need special assistance on landing. Yesterday we flew MCO-LAX and about two thirds of the way through the flight there was the call again. This woman required a doctor - luckily there was one on board - at one stage I thought we might have ended up landing in Phoenix or somewhere but we got to LAX. We then waited for medical personnel to come on board and escort her off.

Last night we flew home LAX-SYD and about two hours from Sydney there was another sick woman. I assume they knew who the doctors were on the plane as there was no call but on landing we sat at the gate for a good half hour waiting for local medical personnel to come on board and escort her off. Having already sat on the plane for 15.5 hours and having missed breakfast due to expected turbulence that unexpectedly didn't turn up, some of the passengers were in a less than charitable mood. Not me - I'm just glad it wasn't me feeling that sick on a plane.

Felt this was an odd enough occurrence for me to report it - three times in three flights! Anyone had similar?

 

[Himeno]

I've only ever heard one of those calls while in flight. Last Sunday's QF12, about 2 hours out of LAX. Was thinking we might be going to HNL.
Only other time I've been on an aircraft with a call for medical assistance was on an IB flight before pushback at MAD.

 

[Groundhog]

Mrs Groundhog and I flew from HKG to LHR bout 10 years ago and the guy next to us had a heart attack about 30 mins into the flight. The call came out and there was a doctor and nurse on the plane who looked after him. I thought we would go back but i was wrong, it was London or bust. They moved him to J and he spend the rest of the flight there. One way to get an op up i suppose

 

[drross]

i've only been asked to provide assistance about 5 times in the last 10years of flying. 3 in 3 flights is pretty significant

 

[Warks]

i've only been asked to provide assistance about 5 times in the last 10years of flying. 3 in 3 flights is pretty significant

We were starting to think we were causing it!

 

[artemis]

We were starting to think we were causing it!

Can you let everyone know when you're flying again please? Three out of three must mean you are some sort of super-jinx! And I neither want to get sick on your flight, or have to help on flight (I will if I have to, but I'd rather sleep!)

Sheesh - what a lucky run you've had though - no diversions!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

We were on QF3 SYD/HNL on 04 Feb and it must've been a few hours after we left SYD that I heard a PA asking if there was a Doctor onboard. I was half asleep at the time so I don't remember much but I don't recall seeing any medical personal on arrival so assume it wasn't serious.

On QF2 DXB/SYD on 04 May before we departed I noticed an F/A walk past with a medical kit and an elderly lady travelling with her son who had joined in LHR was offloaded in DXB as she wasn't well enough to continue the journey.is extremely

It didn't cause a big delay ex DXB but the Captain had to refile for another slot time over Omani airspace which is extremely busy however a new clearance was received and we were underway.

 

[Warks]

I was thinking about diversions over the Pacific and where they could land. Not a big problem on a 777 but the A380 wouldn't have many options I'd guess.

 

[cove]

Warks I don't think I want to be on a plane with you. Three out of three is unbelievable.
We had a freak out and unload before we took off....would have been better if we had not made it to the runway.....but we left her behind after the luggage was located.

 

[scaredeycat]

I recently flew Emirates from DXB to CPH. As I was greeted by the cabin manager she asked me what sort of doctor I was, just in case there was an emergency. She then asked the same question of the fellow across the aisle, who told her that he was a doctor of political science - must remember that line next time I fly .

 

[get me outta here]

I would have been tempted to ask him who he thinks will lead the two major parties to the next election.

I recently flew Emirates from DXB to CPH. As I was greeted by the cabin manager she asked me what sort of doctor I was, just in case there was an emergency. She then asked the same question of the fellow across the aisle, who told her that he was a doctor of political science - must remember that line next time I fly .

 

[MH_fan]

I've been called 4 or 5 times in the last 5-6 years. The most recent being just a little over a year ago where there was a pregnant lady with severe abdominal pain. No diversions required, much to the relief of the crew and the captain.

 

[VulpesVulpes]

Had a really lucky one a few months ago - storms closed BNE and we were doing circle work above the GC. There was a small gap but more storms coming that were going to close the airport again. The pilot got on the PA and said we had bucketloads of fuel but if they were closed for more than about half an hour we were going to have to pop in and say hi at OOL.

Then there was a lady that got sick at this point he strapped us in and made the quickest landing I have ever seen and we were the last jet in before it closed again.

A colleague wasn't so lucky on a SYD BNE and had to pitstop at OOL - apparently costing 4.5hrs of his time. So very glad I didn't have to do that! I even got to finish watching my movie. Thanks sick lady!

(yes I am going to hell for that haha)

 

[jb747]

In all my 30 years of flying I've probably had about three medical situations or emergencies on my flights that I know of, could be more but not much. Anyway about ten days ago we flew LGA-MCO (La Guardia-NYC to Orlando) and there was a woman who was very sick and they put out a call for a doctor/nurse/paramedic. There was a spare row at the back of the ('full') plane where she was looked after and she recovered enough not to need special assistance on landing. Yesterday we flew MCO-LAX and about two thirds of the way through the flight there was the call again. This woman required a doctor - luckily there was one on board - at one stage I thought we might have ended up landing in Phoenix or somewhere but we got to LAX. We then waited for medical personnel to come on board and escort her off.

Last night we flew home LAX-SYD and about two hours from Sydney there was another sick woman. I assume they knew who the doctors were on the plane as there was no call but on landing we sat at the gate for a good half hour waiting for local medical personnel to come on board and escort her off. Having already sat on the plane for 15.5 hours and having missed breakfast due to expected turbulence that unexpectedly didn't turn up, some of the passengers were in a less than charitable mood. Not me - I'm just glad it wasn't me feeling that sick on a plane.

Felt this was an odd enough occurrence for me to report it - three times in three flights! Anyone had similar?

On long haul flights it (calling for medical assistance) happens pretty regularly. On most occasions nothing comes of it. The crew often know who (at least some) of the doctors are...plus the PAs systems can be operated selectively, so a call doesn't necessarily go to all compartments.

Waiting to disembark in Oz, most likely isn't a case of waiting for local medical staff, but more likely it's Quarantine making up their mind whether you can get off at all.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm not in the league of the OP with three in a row but on my BNE/PER flight last Friday maybe 2-3 hours into the 5.50 hour flight, after the meal service I was dozing and was aware of a PA for a Doctor onboard.

When the a/c arrived at the gate the Capt explained that some of use may have been aware that a passenger was ill during the flight so he'd left the seatbelt sign on and asked that everyone remained seated until the paramedics had boarded and taken to attend to the passenger. Everyone complied.

We'd arrived at gate 14 in PER so they used dual aerobridges and the paramedics boarded through the second door. After a short time J pax were allowed to disembark through the forward door. Not sure how long Y pax had to wait or whether the patient was taken off the a/c prior to other pax disembarking.

 

[jb747]

We'd arrived at gate 14 in PER so they used dual aerobridges and the paramedics boarded through the second door. After a short time J pax were allowed to disembark through the forward door. Not sure how long Y pax had to wait or whether the patient was taken off the a/c prior to other pax disembarking.

Once the paramedics are on board, you can see how it is going to play out, and generally you can then get everyone off pretty quickly. What you don't want is for the aisles to be blocked, so it's done zone by zone.

 

[juddles]

Hearing calls for doctors onboard never phases me - but the day they page asking for pilots I will be upset.

 

[drron]

Hearing calls for doctors onboard never phases me - but the day they page asking for pilots I will be upset.

It has happened-
Ladies and gentlemen is there a pilot on board?

Chilling announcement made on United Airlines flight after pilot suffers heart-attack and hero nurse saves his life | Daily Mail Online

 

[juddles]

I would hope that a co-pilot can land a plane!!

 

[Colster]

Was on a Death Star flight MEL-DPS when a young lady on her honeymoon just keeled over next to me in J- . Having studied nursing a long time ago, I helped out and got the JQ people to get oxygen, but I must say they were absolutely useless. Didn't understand recovery positions or even DRABC. In the end I think the young bride had a severe panic attack (says something about either the groom or the airline) and was OK (recommended she went and saw a Doc straight away).

Wouldn't want to be on JQ when a *real* medical emergency occurred.