Panic Attack

April 30, 2009

in Illness/Medical Stories

While flying from Las Vegas to Pittsburgh I was shocked to see our flight attendants running to the rear of the plane for a medical emergency. Sitting in First Class with my mother, we were not sure what was going on in the back. An announcement was made for any doctors to please report to the rear of the airplane. Nobody stirred and the flight went on.

A few minutes later, a flight attendant noticed my fire department shirt and told me that her son too was a firefighter…and he had medical training. Well that being said I went to the rear of the plane where a person was suffering a panic attack. The flight attendant had pulled down one of the yellow masks to give some much needed oxygen to the passenger, but that proved to be our downfall.

After some tense moments, it was decided to land the plane in Albuquerque. The patient was taken from the plane, but we were told that the mask had to be replaced before we could continue our flight. Three hours on the tarmac later, the plane was unbearably hot and soon the problems began. Seven cases of heatstroke later, we were deplaned and sat in the airport for another 2 hours. Finally we were able to take off again for our destination. I have to give Airtran credit. For my assistance, they gave my mom and I vouchers for a First Class flight of our choice.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Rob April 25, 2009 at 5:57 pm

Ah, I'm not qualified for an in-flight medical emergency?

My own medical training matches that of most firefighters….for legal reasons I wouldn't touch another person.

I have better things to do than spend 20 years in court defending my charitable actions or trying to explain that 40 years of bad eating meant your windpipe was almost closed due to fat, and not because of the 15 seconds your head slumped down on your shoulders. Blame the system you guys love.

I would have told the FA it was just a shirt.

Cruel yeah. too bad. It's funny how people are ok 350,000 hours in a row, but the second they get onto a plane, their medical problems manifest.

7 cases of heatstroke are certainly worse than one person who should have been quickly de-planed on landing.

Reply

Nut Ass May 2, 2009 at 11:31 am

I think the story is phoney

Reply

Tom June 15, 2009 at 4:45 pm

The first comment must have missed the legal aspect of all his training. Good Samaritan covers this. Being trained means a duty to respond. Not a phony story, would have been alot more gory if it were made up.

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