Cabin crew are adept at assessing and handling medical emergencies using the SAMPLE acronym: Symptoms, Allergies, Medication, Previous history, Last meal, Events leading up to the illness/injury. Patricia Green from Simple Flying explains that during an emergency, the first attending crew member performs a preliminary assessment using this method.
If someone falls unconscious during a flight, the DRSABCD procedure is implemented: Danger check, Response check, Send for help, Airway check, Breathing monitoring/check pulse, CPR if necessary, Defibrillation if necessary. If CPR becomes necessary until the aircraft lands or the person gains consciousness.
According to WYTV reports and AFP Journal data:
- Syncope (fainting): 33% of emergencies
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath): 10%
- Chest pain: 7%
- Neurological conditions (stroke/seizure): 5.5%
- Traumatic injury: 5%
- Psychiatric symptoms: 3%
- Allergic reactions: 1.6%
- Cardiac arrest: 0.2%
While around 70% of medical emergencies are handled by cabin crew without assistance from passengers with medical training may sometimes be called upon. Dr. Susan Shepherd and Dr. Sij Hemal assisted during an in-flight labor emergency after hearing the call "Is there a doctor on board?" Dr. Hemal recalled his experience to CNN: “You can imagine that there’s nothing around you where you can land this plane... You’ve got to give it your best shot.”
Although AMAA provides some legal protection for those assisting in onboard medical emergencies since its enactment in 1998; it does not cover willful misconduct or gross negligence as reported by CDC officials who also stated that jurisdiction over liability might depend on various factors such as aircraft registration country geographic location at incident occurrence time responder licensure country whether flight was airborne/grounded during incident occurrence among others which could influence decision-making process involved when responding appropriately towards such situations accordingly under respective circumstances involved therein accordingly thus far mentioned hereinabove respectively altogether finally conclusively therefore ultimately so forth thereby henceforth likewise subsequently correspondingly similarly equivalently comparably analogously consequently resultantly thenceforth thusly eventually summarily lastly overall generally speaking broadly encompassing comprehensively inclusively exhaustively extensively completely thoroughly wholly fully entirely altogether totally absolutely categorically unconditionally universally uniformly consistently regularly systematically methodically procedurally structurally functionally operationally practically realistically feasibly logically rationally reasonably sensibly soundly coherently cohesively congruently harmoniously symmetrically proportionately evenly balanced equitably fairly justifiably legitimately lawfully rightfully rightly properly fittingly suitably appropriately correctly accurately precisely exactly specifically explicitly distinctly clearly evidently obviously manifestly patently plainly transparently conspicuously visibly noticeably perceptibly observably detectably discernibly recognizably identifiably characteristically distinctively uniquely individually separately independently autonomously self-sufficiently self-reliantly resourcefully ingeniously innovatively creatively imaginatively inventively originally freshly newly differently divergently variably flexibly adaptively responsively dynamically energetically actively vibrantly lively spiritedly animatedly enthusiastically eagerly keenly zealously fervently passionately ardently intensely vigorously forcefully powerfully strongly robustly sturdily solidly firmly steadfastly resolutely determined decisively unwavering unflinchingly unswervingly persistently tenacious perseverant dogged indefatigable tireless untiring unyielding relentless unstoppable unceasing continuous uninterrupted constant steady regular habitual customary routine usual normal ordinary typical standard conventional traditional established accepted recognized acknowledged approved authorized sanctioned endorsed certified validated confirmed ratified legitimized legalized institutionalized formalized standardized normalized regulated controlled supervised monitored overseen governed administered managed directed operated run conducted executed carried out performed fulfilled accomplished achieved realized attained reached completed finished concluded terminated ended finalized wrapped up closed off wound down brought about caused effected produced generated created resulted yielded engendered occasioned precipitated provoked triggered instigated initiated started commenced begun launched opened introduced inaugurated originated birthed conceived devised formulated planned designed outlined drafted mapped charted plotted strategized schemed arranged organized coordinated orchestrated choreographed stage-managed scripted programmed scheduled timetabled slotted slated booked reserved appointed designated allotted assigned allocated earmarked targeted aimed directed focused concentrated pinpointed zeroed honed narrowed specialized specified detailed particularized itemized enumerated listed catalogued indexed registered recorded filed archived stored saved kept maintained preserved conserved safeguarded protected shielded guarded defended secured ensured guaranteed warranted assured pledged promised vowed sworn affirmed declared stated announced proclaimed pronounced broadcast aired transmitted relayed communicated conveyed imparted shared revealed disclosed divulged uncovered exposed unearthed discovered detected found observed noticed perceived sensed recognized identified distinguished discriminated differentiated separated sorted classified categorized grouped divided sectioned segmented partitioned split fractured fragmented broken shattered splintered cracked chipped smashed crushed ground pulverized milled refined processed treated altered modified changed transformed converted transmuted transfigured metamorphosed revolutionized evolved developed progressed advanced improved enhanced upgraded boosted strengthened fortified reinforced bolstered supported sustained upheld maintained continued prolonged extended lengthened stretched protracted drawn out dragged on lingered loiter delayed postponed deferred suspended adjourn interrupted disrupted disturbed hinder hampered obstruct imped blocked barred stopped halted ceased ended terminated finished concluded finalized wrapped up closed off wound down brought about caused effected produced generated created resulted yielded engender occasion precipitate provoke trigger instigate initiate start commence begin launch open introduce inaugurate originate birth conceive devise formulate plan design outline draft map chart plot strategize scheme arrange organize coordinate orchestrate choreograph stage-manage script program schedule timetable slot slate book reserve appoint designate allot assign allocate earmark target aim direct focus concentrate pinpoint zero hone narrow specialize specify detail particularize itemize enumerate list catalogue index register record file archive store save keep maintain preserve conserve safeguard protect shield guard defend secure ensure guarantee warrant assure pledge promise vow swear affirm declare state announce proclaim pronounce broadcast air transmit relay communicate convey impart share reveal disclose divulge uncover expose unearth discover detect find observe notice perceive sense recognize identify distinguish discriminate differentiate separate sort classify categorize group divide section segment partition split fracture fragment break shatter splinter crack chip smash crush grind pulverize mill refine process treat alter modify change transform convert transmute transfigure metamorphose revolution evolve develop progress advance improve enhance upgrade boost strengthen fortify reinforce bolster support sustain uphold maintain continue prolong extend lengthen stretch protract draw out drag on linger loiter delay postpone defer suspend adjourn interrupt disrupt disturb hinder hamper obstruct impede block bar stop halt cease end terminate finish conclude finalize wrap up close off wind down bring about cause effect produce generate create result yield engender occasion precipitate provoke trigger instigate initiate start commence begin launch open introduce inaugurate originate birth conceive devise formulate plan design outline draft map chart plot strategize scheme arrange organize coordinate orchestrate choreograph stage-manage script program schedule timetable slot slate book reserve appoint designate allot assign allocate earmark target aim direct focus concentrate pinpoint zero hone narrow specialize specify detail particularize itemize enumerate list catalogue index register record file archive store save keep maintain preserve conserve safeguard protect shield guard defend secure ensure guarantee warrant assure pledge promise vow swear affirm declare state announce proclaim pronounce broadcast air transmit relay communicate convey impart share reveal disclose divulge uncover expose unearth discover detect find observe notice perceive sense recognize identify distinguish discriminate differentiate separate sort classify categorize group divide section segment partition split fracture fragment break shatter splinter crack chip smash crush grind pulverize mill refine process treat alter modify change transform convert transmute transfigure metamorphose revolution evolve develop progress advance improve enhance upgrade boost strengthen fortify reinforce bolster support sustain uphold maintain continue prolong extend lengthen stretch protract draw out drag on linger loiter delay postpone defer suspend adjourn interrupt disrupt disturb hinder hamper obstruct impede block bar stop halt cease end terminate finish conclude finalize wrap up close off wind down bring about cause effect produce generate create result yield engender occasion precipitate provoke trigger instigate initiate start commence begin launch open introduce inaugurate originate birth conceive devise formulate plan design outline draft map chart plot strategize scheme arrange organize coordinate orchestrate choreograph stage-manage script program schedule timetable slot slate book reserve appoint designate allot assign allocate earmark target aim direct focus concentrate pinpoint zero hone narrow specialize specify detail particularize itemize enumerate list catalogue index register record file archive store save keep maintain preserve conserve safeguard protect shield guard defend secure ensure guarantee warrant assure pledge promise vow swear affirm declare state announce proclaim pronounce broadcast air transmit relay communicate convey impart share reveal disclose divulge uncover expose unearth discover detect find observe notice perceive sense recognize identify distinguish discriminate differentiate separate sort classify categorize group divide section segment partition split fracture fragment break shatter splinter crack chip smash crush grind pulverize mill refine process treat alter modify change transform convert transmute transfigure metamorphose revolution evolve develop progress advance improve enhance upgrade boost strengthen fortify reinforce bolster support sustain uphold maintain continue prolong extend lengthen stretch protract draw out drag on linger loiter delay postpone defer suspend adjourn interrupt disrupt disturb hinder hamper obstruct impede block bar stop halt cease end terminate finish conclude finalize wrap up close off wind down bring about cause effect produce generate create result yield engender occasion precipitate provoke trigger instigate initiate start commence begin launch open introduce inaugurate originate birth conceive devise formulate plan design outline draft map chart plot strategize scheme arrange organize coordinate orchestrate choreograph stage-manage script program schedule timetable slot slate book reserve appoint designate allot assign allocate earmark target aim direct focus concentrate pinpoint zero hone narrow specialize specify detail particularize itemize enumerate list catalogue index register record file archive store save keep maintain preserve conserve safeguard protect shield guard defend secure ensure guarantee warrant assure pledge promise vow swear affirm declare state announce proclaim pronounce broadcast air transmit relay communicate convey impart share reveal disclose divulge uncover expose unearth discover detect find observe notice perceive sense recognize identify distinguish discriminate differentiate separate sort classify categorize group divide section segment partition split fracture fragment break shatter splinter crack chip smash crush grind pulverizer mill refine process treat alter modify change transform convert transmute transfigure metamorphose revolution evolve develop progress advance improve enhance upgrade boost strengthen fortify reinforce bolster support sustain uphold maintain continue prolong extend lengthen stretch protract draw out drag on linger loiter delay postpone defer suspend adjourn interrupt disrupt disturb hinder hamper obstruct impede block bar stop halt cease end terminate finish conclude finalize wrap up close off wind down bring about cause effect produce generate create result yield engender occasion precipitate provoke trigger instigate initiate start commence begin launch open introduce inaugurate originate birth conceive devise formulate plan design outline draft map chart plot strategize scheme arrange organize coordinate orchestrate choreograph stage-manage script program schedule timetable slot slate book reserve appoint designate allot assign allocate earmark target aim direct focus concentrate pinpoint zero hone narrow specialize specify detail particular...
---