Buzz
In movies and TV shows, a common scene unfolds: someone collapses, and a crowd gathers, unsure how to help. Typically, two things occur. Someone urges everyone to step back to give the victim space, while another shouts, 'Is there a doctor here?'
Often, a doctor appears just in time to save the day. But in real life, what are the chances of a medical professional being nearby to assist you?
If you're on a plane, your odds are good. Christian Martin-Gill, a physician and emergency medicine professor at the University of Pittsburgh, analyzed in-flight communications from five airlines over nearly three years. He discovered nearly 12,000 calls to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s STAT-MD Communications Center, a 24/7 medical support service used by some airlines during in-flight emergencies.
Analyzing these calls, Martin-Gill discovered that a medical emergency occurs on approximately one out of every 604 commercial flights. The most frequent issues include fainting, severe nausea, and respiratory or cardiac complications.
In roughly half of the emergencies Martin-Gill reviewed, physicians traveling as passengers provided treatment. In over 25% of the remaining cases, nurses or EMTs onboard assisted the affected individuals.
Therefore, if you fall ill during a flight, there’s a strong likelihood that calling out, 'Is there a doctor onboard?' will result in immediate assistance.
Martin-Gill also noted that most passengers involved in these emergencies recovered well. Out of nearly 12,000 cases studied, only 36 deaths were recorded, with 30 occurring mid-flight. Among those who reached their destinations (only 7% of flights required diversion due to medical emergencies), just 25% needed hospital care upon landing, and only 8% of those were admitted.
