What happens when a person on an airplane crossing the ocean gets sick ...?

Question

...which requires immediate hospitalization? Let's say having a heart attack. And the plain is 4 hours away from the closest shore, do they just let that person die?

Thank you my answer friends, I had a good laugh reading these and I feel much better! really.

Answer 1

no that's why they make parachutes no one wants sick or dead people on the plane slap a chute on them refund the unused air fare and out they go ...... in reality there is a defibrillator on every plane now and the personnel are trained to use it

Answer 2

actually the pilots and the flight attendants have to be trained how to use to the on board Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine. it is a requirement to work with any airline

this machine is just like to ones used in the hospital to shock a person's heart in the event of cardiac arrest (the heart stops beating) due to heart attack.


the flight attendant would FIRST ask if there are any medical staff people on board (dr,nurse,emt,etc). if so, this person would then take over care of the sick person until the plane lands. if there is no medical person on board-then the flight attendant will take over care with the help of the pilot.

the pilot would be alerted of the medical emergency and he would then use the on-board medical communication equipment to contant medical personnel-most airlines are contracted with medical companies that will provide a doctor that the pilot can talk to and take instructions from until the plane lands.

the doctor on the phone will decide whether or not diversion of the airplane is necessary and if it is-air traffic control will advise the pilot where the closest airport is and arrange for the plane to make a safe landing there where medical personnel (ambulance or medical helicopter) will be waiting to take the person to the closest hospital.

if the plane is over open water and not near an airport-medical care would be given within reasonable capacity of the crew on board until the plane can be landed. the pilot will not endanger the lives of the rest of the passengers by trying to make an emergency landing anywhere than a designated airport.

Answer 3

Chances are, if you are on an airplane crossing the ocean, there is a doctor on board. The doctor would know how to help the person until they made it to a hospital. A lot of the time the airport staff will be medically trained as well.

Answer 4

I guess some one there should know first aid, and if that person is very lucky there will be a Dr.

but just hope for the best is what in any case that person can do

I hope this never happens to anyone

Answer 5

They can just give the "First Aid" kind of care in the airoplane. If the doctor is travelling then he can check but as he is not equipped so he can not give medicines. In case of Heart attack there are Air Hostesses who knows how to handle that situation in order to get the heart in rhythm if it stops to bit else they can give certain OTC medicines for the time being.

Answer 6

they must put their head between their knees....then kiss their butt goodbye...well, now they have automated difibrillators on board most flights, I would hope. And International flights stand a pretty fair chance of a doctor being aboard....it's a risk ya gotta take if ya wanna get over there, I suppose

Answer 7

in a genuine and life threatening emergency the captain of the plane has the sole discretion to continue the flight or divert for medical assistance.
that's why old people have to pass a medical to fly.
the heart attack is what I mean, not the captain!

Answer 8

Everyone who flies over large bodies of water is sick

Answer 9

they just chuck 'em out the window and carry on

Answer 10

'chute them to the ground where the paramedics are waitin'.