Heart Attack

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This is sort of like a "Your the Captain" post:

Let's say you were on a flight over the Atlantic Ocean and were to have a heart attack. As a heart attack needs immediate attention, how would the crew respond to this and could there be any medical assistance until the aircraft landed? My guess would be that they would see if there were any doctors on board or some medical personnel. But if not ,is the crew trained in any way to handle a medical emergency?
 
There was an article in some aviation magazine last year....talked about a flight that diverted to keflavik.

There are some options...
 
Some airliners caarry an onboard AED, which the FAs would be trained to use. A longshot on survival, since adequate med care would still be a long ways away time-wise.
 
I think the safest option would be to throw you out into the icey waters of the Atlantic, thus slowing down your heart rate and prolonging your life until such time that a rescue crew could locate you and perform proper medical treatment.

OH - and we'd be sure to stick a locator beacon/GPS up your arse too. That'd do the trick.
 
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I think the safest option would be to throw you out into the icey waters of the Atlantic, thus slowing down your heart rate and prolonging your life until such time that a rescue crew could locate you and perform proper medical treatment.

OH - and we'd be sure to stick a locator beacon/GPS up your arse too. That'd do the trick.

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LOL!
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Glad I could help.

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Your post is logical. Pending you survive the fall, the cold Atlantic water should serve as a good physiological "preservative", if you will, that should keep you set until rescue crews could unfreeze you and jump-start you up.
 
You wouldn't survive the fall as the airliner wouldn't be able to get slow enough for you to do so. Especially with a heart condition.
 
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You wouldn't survive the fall as the airliner wouldn't be able to get slow enough for you to do so. Especially with a heart condition.

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On the way home from Normandy this past month someone in our group had a seizure onboard literally in the middle of our Atlantic track. The flight attendants naturally asked there were any doctors on-board to attend to the person in our group that had the seizure. After the person in our group recovered I was talking to my friend who helped (the doctor) and he said that they, the flight attendants showed him the list of what is in an 'advanced' medical kit. Not exactly sure of the name of it but the flight attendants said they are NOT trained to use it and only a trained medical personal onboard the plane can use it if need be. They said they can get in deep doodoo if it is opened by a non-trained professional or EVEN if a trained professional opens it and doesn't need it. My friend said that the kit was worth a couple of thousand dollars very easily with all the medicines in there and that the kit could keep someone alive for a while if need be by the right person.
 
We carry AEDs on board all of our planes now, in addition to an Emergency Medical Kit. We cannot open the EMK without first contacting Medlink via radio patch through San Francisco ARINC, and having a doctor to use the contents. However for the AED the F/As are trained to use them, and there are instructions inside, just like the ones located around airports nowadays. We also have a First Aid Kit which can be opened, but must be restocked and collared again before the next flight, as well as an oxygen bottle which can be used for medicinal oxygen.
 
AED's are easy to use but I don't think it will keep someone going that long. My first response if I see a well dressed person suffer a heart attack on board would be to open his wallet with the announced intention of checking to find out his name, I'd remove any cash I could find. Next I'd have someone create a distraction so that I can get his watch, rings, etc. Then lets have a look at those shoes...
 
Some guidance about incapacitation.

Aircraft Control
Take full control of the aircraft; use the autopilot as necessary.
-Take whatever actions are requoired to guarantee free movement of the controls.
-Check control and switch positions.
Declare an emergency.
Restrict the incapacitated pilot from the flight controls. Consider removal from the seat using other personel, as needed.
Contact Dipatcher.

First Aid:
First aid should be assigned to the flight attendants.
-Any prolonged first aid should be administered outside the cockpit.
-If a medical doctor is on board, his assistance should be requested.
Request medical assistance be provided after landing.
Make a PA if a pilot has been removed from the cockpit and has been visible to the passengers

Cockpit Management:
Use deadheading pilots, if possible.
Perform approach check well in advance.
Fly the aircraft from your normal seat.
Request assistance from ATC, if necessary, and make a coupled approach, if possible.
 
[ QUOTE ]
This is sort of like a "Your the Captain" post:

Let's say you were on a flight over the Atlantic Ocean and were to have a heart attack. As a heart attack needs immediate attention, how would the crew respond to this and could there be any medical assistance until the aircraft landed? My guess would be that they would see if there were any doctors on board or some medical personnel. But if not ,is the crew trained in any way to handle a medical emergency?

[/ QUOTE ]now that...is a GREAT question Brian!!
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Glad I could help.

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Your post is logical. Pending you survive the fall, the cold Atlantic water should serve as a good physiological "preservative", if you will, that should keep you set until rescue crews could unfreeze you and jump-start you up.

[/ QUOTE ]you can't unfreeze a person... dork!
rolleyes.gif
 
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Cockpit Management:
Use deadheading pilots, if possible.
Perform approach check well in advance.
Fly the aircraft from your normal seat.
Request assistance from ATC, if necessary, and make a coupled approach, if possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

A little hard to do the approach as a couple if the cap'n is incapacitated, ain't it? And wouldn't you rather couple with that cute li'l blonde FA you've been eyeing the whole trip?

And aren't you missing a step in the above procedure? At what point do you query the passengers for anyone with significant flight sim experience in make and model? I mean, some of those guys can even program an FMS!

bandit.gif
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
This is sort of like a "Your the Captain" post:

Let's say you were on a flight over the Atlantic Ocean and were to have a heart attack. As a heart attack needs immediate attention, how would the crew respond to this and could there be any medical assistance until the aircraft landed?

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Of course this goes back to some other threads about whether or not you are a "good captain to fly with".

The obvious answer, assuming they are all junior to you, is first high fives all around, Then how to make a "concerted" effort to help you. Keeping in mind it should look good. Of course the automatic defiblithing as Mike said. There would be the obvious question as to where you attach the "thingies". (Somebody pull his pants down).

Diversion is definitely in order, since this gives the relief FO the chance to really make captain type decisions. Good practice since he is going to move up in seniority before the end of the flight.. This will happen whether you live or die because having a heart attack while at work is definitely about the worst thing you can do, First Class Medical wise.

Dave
 
[ QUOTE ]
Cockpit Management:
Use deadheading pilots, if possible.
Perform approach check well in advance.
Fly the aircraft from your normal seat.
Request assistance from ATC, if necessary, and make a coupled approach, if possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Question.

If you're in the right seat and the tiller is all the way on the left, how do you stear on the ground?

The only thing I could think of was stoping straight ahead on the runway.
 
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