In-Flight Emergencies: Is there any doctor on the plane?

Okay, I was on a flight from Abuja to Lagos and I had a discussion with a man en-route the 45 minutes journey. We were discussing about possible emergencies on planes, and he shared his experience with an emergency case and he was happy that there was a medical practitioner when the hostess asked "is there was a doctor on the plane". When he said this, he made it clear that he understood the importance of a medical practitioner on the plane. That said, let's discuss certain emergency cases that would warrant the question "is there any doctor on the plane?"

The most common in flight medical emergency is Syncope, better known as fainting. It is so common and can happen for many reasons including dehydration, low blood sugar, prolonged immobility during the flight, and effect of reduced air pressure and oxygen level in the cabin but in cases where people have excessive bleeding, it can also lead to syncope. This happens a lot and to prevent it, passengers should stay hydrated, they shouldn't eat something heavy before the flight, and not stay immobile all through the flight.

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People can suffer from dyspnea (Difficulty breathing) and this occur as a result of so many reasons including lung conditions such as chronic inflammatory lung disease (COPD), and so on. Also cases of reduced air pressure and humidity while on flight can be a cause of dyspnea while flying and flight can exacerbate other respiratory issues. Passengers can also experience shortness of blood as a result of pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs).

This usually starts with deep vein thrombosis usually in the legs, where it then move to the lungs. Generally it is advisable to provide people with respiratory issues supplementary oxygen and people who have a high risk of thrombosis should stay hydrated, perform exercises with the leg while sitting or take frequent trips to the lavatory. Compression socks can be beneficial to patients.

Allergic reaction isn't uncommon in flight as different people are allergic to different things. First when a person with allergy is getting into a plane, it is advisable that they tell the crew what they are allergic to, as well as have epinephrine handy in case of anaphylaxis. But while allergies look like they are common, Gastrointestinal problem is a more common one. People might become nauseated, vomit, have diarrhea, and so on during air travel. This can be as a result of motion sickness, dehydration, and hangover from alcohol intake.

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Another common emergency case is seizure. This emergency is common among people with history of epilepsy or seizures. It is always advisable that people with previous history as such inform the flight crew before getting onboard, as well as have medication. In the cases where a person cannot reach their their medications, anti-anxiety drugs can work as well. If a person has seizure, it is important that space is given and cushioning as well to prevent them to inflicting more injury on themselves.

Chest pain is another common emergency in flight and this can be a sign of serious issues such as cardiac conditions like a heart attack, and aortic dissection, or more lighter cases like indigestion and muscle strain. Chest pain should not be ignored in a flight and a medical practitioner should be requested for if a case of chest pain occurs in the flight.

Obstetric Emergency is quite common in planes as pregnant women can also be onboard a plane, although not like in the past. This emergencies can include pre-term labor, miscarriage and so on. In recent times, airlines have placed restriction on late and heavy pregnancies to prevent cases of obstetric emergencies especially one with labor.

The pivotal question, "Is there a doctor on the plane?" underscores the critical need for medical expertise amidst the uncertainties of in-flight health challenges. While there is a need for medical practitioners to be in flights, it is also important for people to share with crew members their health status so there can be proper preparations for any possible event.

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