Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.
If you’re planning to fly soon, there’s a good chance you’re off on holiday – and the last thing you want to think about is a medical emergency while you’re on board. If somebody else becomes ill, there’s a chance you’ll hear an announcement asking if there’s a medical professional on board. Your plane could be delayed if it hasn’t left the ground, or diverted if you’re already en route. This can be worrying – but it’s far more scary if the casualty is you.
How Often Do Medical Emergencies Happen?
Fortunately, medical emergencies on aeroplanes are uncommon – it’s estimated that there are between 24 and 130 medical emergencies for every million passengers who fly. What’s more, if you have a medical condition, there are lots of steps you can take, depending on what condition you have, to reduce the risk that you’ll be that casualty on the plane.
Explore our blogs and top tips on specific health conditions to learn more.
What are the Most Common Medical Emergencies?
The most common in-flight emergencies include:
- Heart problems (or symptoms that may be due to heart problems).
- Feeling or being sick.
- Breathing problems.
- Fainting or feeling faint.
Most medical emergencies can be safely dealt with on board without being diverted. About 1 in 12 people were admitted to the hospital when they landed – the most common reasons for needing hospital admission were strokes, health problems, and breathing issues.
Can Cabin Crew Help?
All cabin crew are required to have up-to-date first aid training and can deal with up to 70% of medical emergencies without needing to call on anyone else for help. As well as standard first-aid, they’ll be taught how to deal with issues that are more common on a flight, such as low blood oxygen.
Staff will also be trained to use a defibrillator – although it’s not a legal requirement for planes in the UK to have a defibrillator on board, many do – and it’s a legal requirement for airlines in some other countries. They’ll also have access to a basic first aid kit, including bandages, cold packs, etc.
In a review of over 10,000 medical emergencies on board, there was a doctor on half the flights who was able to offer assistance. Even if there isn’t, the cabin crew have lots of experience and can call on 24-hour medical call centres for help if they need it.
If the cabin crew assesses the patient and agrees that professional medical help is needed and there’s no doctor on board, they’ll contact an approved medical call centre. Here, they’ll be connected to a consulting physician for recommendations on a treatment plan – it’s this physician who will make the ultimate call.
Should the situation be too serious to handle on board, the flight crew will liaise with the physician and ground crew to decide whether an emergency landing is necessary. Emergency services would then be notified at the airport so that the patient can be whisked to the nearest medical facility once the plane has touched down.
Keeping Yourself Safe on Board
Whatever your medical condition, ‘be prepared’ is an important motto to live by. As well as ensuring you have any medication or other supplies you need, do make sure you’ve taken out specialist travel insurance. Otherwise, an emergency on board could result in a trip to the hospital, which could lead to a substantial bill.
If You Have an Individual Health Condition
You may need to speak with your airline directly before your departure date if you require assistance boarding. The airline may also allow you to board early if you are travelling with a wheelchair or require the use of mobility aids.
When it comes to flying with a health condition, your cabin crew may need to know about your medical condition in advance. Whilst you may have already informed your airline, it's always best to make cabin crew aware too, just in case. This way, should you need help or assistance whilst flying, they can spring into action and help care for you.
Flying with Medication
If you’re taking any regular medication, it’s always a very good idea to keep it with you in your hand luggage. This is especially important because checked luggage can sometimes be lost or delayed, and you wouldn't want to be without your essential medication. It's even more crucial if there’s any chance you might need to take it whilst you're in flight, perhaps due to unexpected delays or if you feel unwell. When packing, make sure to keep your medication in its original packaging.
READ MORE: Travelling with Medications
If you take insulin for diabetes, you'll need to make sure you pack it carefully, as it needs to be kept cool. Most airlines are happy for you to bring your insulin with you in special cool bags or insulated containers, so it stays at the right temperature throughout your journey.
It's a good idea to check with your airline before you fly to confirm their specific guidelines for carrying temperature-sensitive medication.
READ MORE: Travelling Safely with Insulin
Flying with an Allergy
If you have an allergy, it is very important to let your cabin crew away, especially if they’ll need to take action for everyone on the plane. For instance, if you have a severe nut allergy, some airlines operate nut-free flights. As well as ensuring there are no nut products in the food served on board, they can make an announcement to ensure no passenger opens or consumes any nut-containing food they’ve brought on board. You should also let the crew know if you have an adrenaline auto-injector, as they may need to use it if you can’t.
Flying with a Respiratory Condition
If you’re concerned about flying, it’s worth having a chat with your doctor or specialist nurse well in advance. They’ll be able to advise on whether there’s a risk that high altitudes could make your symptoms worse (e.g. if you have COPD) and what steps you can take.
READ MORE: How to Avoid Respiratory Triggers On Holiday
Avoiding Clots
Flying, especially long haul, does slightly increase the risk of a clot in the leg called a DVT or deep vein thrombosis. This clot can break off and travel to your lungs, leading to a potentially deadly complication called pulmonary embolus. You can find out more from our guide about whether you’re at increased risk of DVT.
Regardless of your level of risk, it’s worth taking steps (literally!) to cut your risk of DVT on board. Keep the blood flowing in your calves by doing regular ankle circles, knee lifts, and foot pumps; get up and walk up and down the cabin (an aisle seat makes this easier); keep your intake of non-alcoholic fluid up, but avoid alcohol; and don’t take sleeping tablets.
Medical emergencies do happen whilst flying; however, the likelihood of one occurring is very slim, but never zero. Thankfully, should a medical emergency occur on board, the cabin crew are all well trained to help - and in extreme situations, planes can be redirected to ensure those who need it receive the care they need.
If you're flying with a pre-existing medical condition, make sure to pack your medications in your hand luggage, and keep your insulin cool. If you have a severe allergy, make sure to let your cabin crew know. Lastly, having comprehensive travel insurance that specifically covers pre-existing medical conditions can provide peace of mind, offering protection should anything unexpected happen while you’re travelling.