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Dying on a plane is less likely than dying in a plane crash
According to this article, the chances of dying on an airplane is 1 in 7.6 million. The chances of dying in a plane crash is 1 in 1.3 million. Both are rare occurrences, but the recent death of Carina Desir, a woman on a flight to New York has created a new flurry of concern.
There is one detail in the article that does pose something to consider, I think, for people who have had serious breathing problems. If you've ever seen a person have an asthma attack or difficulty breathing due to congestive heart failure, it's frightening. In addition to describing what happened with this recent death on the American Airlines flight, the article describes another incident in 1998 when a man died from an asthma attack. His 10-year old daughter and wife were flying with him.
The oxygen tanks aboard airplanes are made for cabin decompression situations and not for breathing problems from medical conditions. From what I understand, the concentration of oxygen that is given on airplanes is different than what might be administered in a hospital. It's also administered with a face mask. In a hospital, oxygen is administered with a nose tube. This doesn't mean the oxygen on planes won't work, but that in a dire situation, it may not be enough. The situation with Mrs. Desir who died recently is still under investigation.
What strange things have been found on planes?
Click the image to read the bizarre story...
The procedures for what to do if a person dies on an airplane are being reconsidered since different airlines have different procedures. The question of whether to continue to the original destination or land as soon as possible is one of details being looked at in order to understand what is the best option. It seems to me there are drawbacks to either choice. Although, it might be extremely upsetting to fly with dead body, and the lack of control from being up in the air and unable to do anything, must be excruciating for friends and family.
Still if you're flying from New York to California and end up in Chicago, there's the problem of getting the body where you need it to be and then getting yourself there as well. For international flights, that could even be a worse scenario. I do wonder about what people should do who have breathing issues to protect themselves before getting on an airplane. Maybe they should bring their own oxygen. [via AP]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
vaguelyamused Mar 4th 2008 1:58PM
Oxygen on the airplane or in the hospital can be administered by nose or mask. The oxygen on the airplane wouldn't be any different then medical oxygen per se. It just depends on what kind of mask they use to deliver it and the flow rate. That will control the percentage of oxygen delivered.
The mask in the medical kit is going to be different from what drops out of the ceiling in an emergency. Regardless if you go into cardiac arrest like this lady did oxygen isn't going to make that big of a difference. Regarding the defibrillator I strongly suspect it worked but after it analyzed her heart rhythm it didn't deliver a shock. If she wasn't in a "shockable" rhythm then it would have instructed the crew to continue CPR and not deliver a shock. Something television and movies have trained everyone to believe is that defibrillators are used to shock people with a flat-line EKG (asystole, no electrical activity in the heart) and "jump start" the heart. In fact defibrillators are designed to basically STOP a heart in fibrillation (disorganized contraction) with the hope that it starts back up into an organized rhythm. Kind of like re-booting your computer. If someone is flat line there is no point in shocking them and an AED won't shock them if it's working properly.
While it's quite unfortunate for this lady the truth is that she probably got far quicker care then if she'd been sitting at home. The outcome was probably going to be the same regardless. The survival rate for out of hospital cardiac arrest is practically nil.
Jamie Rhein Mar 4th 2008 2:02PM
Thanks for the details. I think you are right that there was probably nothing more to be done. I think the hard thing about being on an airplane and having something tragic happen is that you are stuck on the plane and unable to do anything until the plane lands. The sense that destiny is not in your hands, but someone else's.
jr Mar 4th 2008 9:17PM
Please be aware that administering O2 by nasal cannula is usually less effective than using a mask.
Also, as the previous poster said, the modern AED is idiot proof, it walks the user through the process by a series of voice prompts. It cannot and will not shock an unshockable heart rhythm.
A full commercial flight -- just going by numbers alone -- will usually have a doctor on board. If there's no doctor, or in addition to the doctor, there's often nurses and/or EMT/paramedics. I have rarely been the only licensed healthcare provider on a flight when someone needs help.
My advice to everyone is to enroll in an American Heart Association Basic Life Support course. It takes 3 hours, walks you through adult/child/infant CPR and choking protocols and teaches the use of the AED. AEDs are in all public buildings and you'll see them mounted in the walls at any US airport. Unlike CPR, which has a lousy 'success' rate, the AED really does save lives, especially when it's on scene quickly.
The most serious incidents I've witnessed on flights have been with overweight, middle-aged smokers in generally poor health. These people are at risk without ever getting on a plane.
Your piece was a good read. Emergency medicine in travel situations is an interesting topic.
Jack Connick Mar 4th 2008 7:54PM
The above comments are quite interesting.
I think one problem is that most flight crews have not had basic CPR/First Aid. I've been on a flight where someone had a diabetes attack and they had no clue on handling it. I put a packet of sugar in his mouth from across the aisle while strapped in on descent...
I was on a long flight last year from Guam to Hawaii. An older man had a heart attack and died, even though he had at least 2-3 docs, nurses and more jump up from the passengers to try to help. Again the crew kind of walked around in a daze with no idea on what to do. They ended up wrapping him in blankets and leaving him in the center row. Pretty surreal. Again there was nothing they could of done for him, massive heart failure.
But I am amazed at the lack of simple first aid training of the flight crews.
cj Mar 6th 2008 12:45AM
Here's a thought, if people are that ill maybe they shouldn't travel and put themselves in that position in the first place, knowing full well that in an airplane up at 30,000 ft there is no guarantee that there will be a doctor onboard and that there are no ambulances to rush them to the nearest hospital. It takes time to land a plane safely with regard to the safety of all the other passengers on the plane. If you have a medical condition and it is helped by oxygen then bring your own, it can be prescribed by doctors and pre-ordered so it is ready and waiting at the airplane before the ill passenger even gets onboard. Come on, gimme a break, people need to start taking action and responsibility for their own health instead of expecting others to do it for them. There are many capable flight crews ready, willing and able to assist passengers and usually a medical professional of some degree on board many flights it sounds like, but take responsibility for your own health condition, live healthier and take precautions if you are ill and still have to travel.
debarbie Mar 5th 2008 2:26PM
According to AAA, 46,000 Americans died in car crashes in 2005.
Especially for the anti-war crowd, where is the protest? Where is the concern?? If 1/10 th of the fatalities were happenning in the (all volunteer) military you'd be calling for heads to roll in Washington? Why don't you demand safety for us innocent people in America??? Huh?
Norbert Mar 5th 2008 5:24PM
I am a surivor of Sudden Death (cardiac arrest). What saved my life was that there were two ex-military guests in the restaurant who done excellent CPR on me for over 10 minutes, followed by 5 shocks from a nearby ambulance, just happen to be near the restaurant. When I got to the hospital, there was a visiting cardiologist, just happen to be there. All these were key factors to my survival (now over 6 years ago)
I am saying all this to emphisize how many things have to be "just right and in place" to survive Sudden Death. These things are just not possible on an airplane, so don't blame the crew. They probably done the best feasably under the circumstaces. It is encouraging to see so many well informed comments, s I am thankfully that were well trained bystanders during my sudden death.
dawn Mar 5th 2008 3:00PM
I agree that most flights could have a medical professional on it and most of these professionals willingly and graciously step up and help with the medical situation even thought they do not have any medical supplies they might need. These professionals do the best they can with what they have in this type of a situation. As far as bringing your our oxygen if needed that is a good idea you do have to contact the airlines and get the proper info regarding bringing your own as the airlines CHARGES you if you request to have some from them. There are companies that you can get a mini concentrater (small machine that turns room air into oxygen) that you can take on airplanes, just call your airlines first to find out what you need to do for clearance. These small machines, some as small as a shoulder purse are great for individuals who need to travel with oxygen.
Jamie Rhein Mar 5th 2008 5:28PM
Norbert,
So glad to hear about your good fortune to be in the right place at the right time when you had your health scare! I think that you are correct in just the right place under the right circumstances stance.
Michael May 29th 2008 11:40AM
Although the odds of dying on the way to an airport to board an airliner are far higher than dying in an airliner crash, I know something about this form of death. In May, 1979, twenty-nine years ago, a girlfriend was aboard American Airlines Flight 191, a DC-10 that crashed on takeoff from OHare on the Friday before Memorial Weekend. The port engine broke off and severed all hydraulics, yawed to the left and crashed near a trailer park. My girl was a 10 year flight attendant, age 32, and one of the eight San Diego based attendants. She and 273 aboard all died. This wreck is still the worst domestic crash, as far as lives lost. She was an Irish Catholic, lived in Pacific Beach and was taking graduate courses at San Diego State to prepare for a life after the airline. I miss her to this day, and I know she is at peace. I knew her for almost five years.
Jamie Rhein May 29th 2008 3:11PM
Michael,
I am so sorry to hear of your tragic loss. What an awful thing to have happened. Thanks for sharing your story. It reminds us that real people with real loved ones are forever affected by events that the public at large often just see as the evening news in the middle of other news.