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Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
April 12, 2023
Faced with the recent death of a passenger on board a British plane, a question arises: how is a medical emergency in the air taken care of? The answer of Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo.
In the hit series “Succession” HBO fans were taken aback by the first episode. One of the main characters, Logan Roy, played by actor Brian Cox, suffered a heart attack on the plane, which led to his death. In real life, how is this type of medical emergency handled? What is the role of the doctor on board? Answers.
The captain communicates with emergency personnel on the ground
When a passenger faints on board an aircraft, it is the crew (trained in first aid) who is responsible for caring for the victim.
It has a medical kit, suitable for minor health issues (antiseptic, dressings, eye drops, etc.) and for larger incidents (vasodilator, antihistamine, glucose solution, etc.).
The crew must then inform the captain of the incident, who will then make a call to ask if there is a doctor on board.
If this is not the case, some companies have provided for a system of contact with emergency responders on the ground, either internally (KLM), or via the SAMU (in Paris) for Air France, Corsair, XL Airways, Air Caribbean and Aigle Azur…
Other companies can contact the nearest control tower and be put in touch with a health professional.
“The most important question to ask is: “Can this health problem wait or is it a medical emergency?” If the answer is positive, it is the Captain, in conjunction with the Samu doctor, who will make the decision whether or not to land“, assures Dr. Gérald Kierzek.
“Doctors on Board”: a new program reserved for doctors
To prevent accidents on board, some companies – like Air France, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines – do not hesitate to encourage doctors to join the “Doctors on Board” program.
This is a system that allows the crew to quickly and discreetly identify a doctor on board, if necessary.
In exchange for this service – and only in the event of an intervention on board – the volunteer doctors who are members of the program will be able to benefit from advantages (exceptional bonus Miles, voucher for a flight, etc.).
The civil liability of the traveling doctor will be covered by insurance taken out by the company – as is the case with Air France, which offers this service.
“It’s a good initiative, which ensures a medical back-up“, recognizes Dr. Kierzek.