Response Capability during Civil Air Carrier Inflight Medical Emergencies

Expanded civil aircraft medical emergency kits have been mandated on U.S. carriers since August 1986. Airlines provided the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports on medical kit usage and outcomes of the associated medical emergencies; 1,016 inflight medical events during the period August 1, 1986, through July 31, 1987, were available for review. Physicians responded to the emergencies in over 63 percent of the occurrences; the two most prevalent presenting situation were chest pain and syncopal episodes. Nine passengers died on board aircraft, and at least three deaths occurred post-landing. A minimum of 89 of the total cases resulted in flight diversions. The sphygmomanometer (739 cases) and stethoscope (734 cases) were the most frequently used kit items; orophatyngeal air ways were utilized in 14 cases. Since standardized reporting formats are not required, evaluation of response capability remains incomplete. Although an additional year of medical emergency kit usage remains to be reported, mandatory reporting of use to the FAA has not been required since July 1988.