In-flight emergencies

Letters

CJEM 2002;4(5):320-321

To the Editor:

Drummond and Drummond's excellent review of medical emergencies in flight correctly highlights British Airways (BA) leadership in on-board medical equipment.¹ I must add to this BA's superb staff training and organization. I have been involved in 3 episodes of providing medical support in an aircraft, one with BA. During the BA flight the staff spontaneously provided relevant medical information from a ground hospital within 30 minutes. I had not even considered asking them for this, yet they managed to access data faster than the health records department in my own institution can. In addition, BA was the only airline that ever sent me a thank you note, despite the fact that the other carriers scrupulously took down my details -- presumably to have someone to blame in the event of a lawsuit!

Daniel Kollek, MD 
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine 
Director of Continuing Medical Education Emergency Program 
Hamilton Health Sciences Centre 
Hamilton, Ont.

Reference

1. Drummond R, Drummond AJ. On a wing and a prayer: medical emergencies on board commercial aircraft. CJEM 2002;4(4):276-80.