Medical Emergency at 38,000 ft!

A medical emergency is apt to occur at anyplace and at anytime. Including while traveling at 38,000 ft above the earth at 600 MPH in an airliner. It so happens on a flight from St Louis to Houston Texas during the Covid years a medical emergency occurred in flight.

During the flight the lead flight attendant made an announcement over the intercom and asked if there was any Doctors or Nurses on board. The flight was experiencing a potential medical emergency. Two passengers came forward. A mother and daughter both were RN’s with one specializing in emergency medicine.

A passenger sitting at the forward section of the aircraft was unresponsive. Airliners carry a basic medical kit containing the blood pressure cuff and stethoscope. This kit was handed over to the nurses. Passengers adjacent to the patient cleared their seats as the nurses began assessing their patient.

The nurses immediately began what is known as the ABC’s of Emergency Medicine. Airway - Breathing - Circulation. Checking vital signs and listening to the heart. They were able to bring the patient to consciousness and ask them questions about medication and medical history.
After a thorough evaluation they concluded the patient was dehydrated and his/her Covid mask had impeded breathing at rest.

Meanwhile the lead flight attendant had been on the phone the entire time talking to the Captain. Giving him a play by play of what was happening with the patient. The patient now fully conscious and breathing normal. Water was given to rehydrate the individual. After another round of vitals both nurses looked at the lead flight attendant, one spoke, “Tell the Captain we are a go for Houston!” Followed by two thumbs up.

The lead flight attendant relayed the message, “Captain, the nurses said we are go for Houston. The patient is fine.” The Captain said, “Rodger that we are a go for Houston!” Both nurses were required to give their RN license numbers to the lead flight attendant for the ships log and they returned to their seat. The plane went on to land in Houston as scheduled.

The two nurses was my daughter and granddaughter. I couldn’t have been more proud the role they played that day at 38,000 ft. For just a few minutes those two were the on scene Emergency Responders. They expertly did their assessment and brought a patient back to full recovery. When the plane landed everyone came out alive.

Cheers to all the medical personnel who were able to keep our hearts beating on and above the earth during the Covid pandemic!