The air transport sector deals with hundreds of medical conditions that travelers are exposed to on a daily basis on flights, but only less than 7% of these cases require an urgent transfer or landing, according to a study in which the medical journal "New England Journal of Medicine" participated.
The study, which was based on medical emergency call records on flights for 5 airlines over a period of more than three years, found that the most common medical emergencies on board flights are syncope by up to 37%, breathing problems by 12%, as well For nausea and vomiting, followed by symptoms of the heart, along with allergies, anxiety, ear pain and headache, but the calculations related to cardiac arrest represent only 0.3% of emergencies while flying.
The conversion of a commercial aircraft to an unscheduled destination due to a sick passenger requires consideration of both medical and operational issues, the sensitivity of the emergency and the possibility of obtaining the necessary care in the intended destination are assessed, with the ability to stabilize the patient’s condition with available supplies, and the proximity of medical resources to the intended airport.
The study showed that the equipment available on the plane is intended for use by the crew who received full medical training, the most prominent of which include a defibrillator and equipment for the medical oxygen supply system as well as commonly used drugs such as injections, antihistamines, first aid supplies and intravenous solutions, indicating the importance Health-care professionals are aware of their potential role as volunteer responders to medical emergencies while flying.