![]() Staff at the check-in desk and at the boarding gate are on the lookout for passengers who present as unwell, and that require further investigation, with the possibility of offloading that passenger. People are never happy with this, but sometimes it has to be done.” I could give numerous examples of passengers being refused boarding. In an attempt to thwart such problems, the only thing to do, in obvious cases, is not to take the problem on board in the first place. “Reduced oxygen, dry air, stress, fatigue, separation from medicines and a lot of minor complications. “Medical conditions can be exacerbated by the on-board environment,” writes former Qantas Captain Bill Austen in his memoir Cloud Surfing. Your airline doesn’t want you onboard if you’re not healthy. The US-based National Association of Underwater Instructors recommends 24 hours after any dive before flying at altitude.Īirlines can refuse to board you if you’re sick ![]() According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and the Divers Alert Network, divers need a minimum surface time of 12 hours following a single dive and 18 hours after repetitive dives or multiple dive days. Even something as simple as a toothache can turn a flight into head-pounding torment.įlying too soon after scuba diving can cause decompression sickness, and the only cure for that is a fast return to low altitude and a hyperbaric chamber. The list includes angina or chest pain, any infectious disease including COVID-19, an ear or sinus infection, a recent heart attack or stroke, if you experience breathlessness at rest or difficulty breathing or a recent operation. That can tip you over the edge if you’re suffering from some health conditions that make it imperative to have a medical check-up before flying. Or maybe there was just one pre-flight drink too many in the terminal.įlying impacts your circulation system, since you’re likely to be inactive for long periods, and respiration, due to less oxygen in a pressurised cabin than at ground level. We push it, don’t we? We want to get to where we’re going and – it’s only a head cold, a mild fever, I haven’t sneezed today so I’m probably not infectious. Many other major carriers also indemnify medical professionals against legal liability. There is also a fear of possible legal consequences, yet according to a report on Medical Guidelines for Airline Travel by the Aerospace Medical Association there are no known cases of legal proceedings against a medical professional who has volunteered in an inflight medical emergency.Īustralian law provides protection for Good Samaritans and in the USA the Aviation Medical Assistance Act of 1998 also provides legal protection for medically qualified professionals. Some will wait in hope that another qualified medico will respond, some lack the relevant qualifications, others might be put off by the cramped surroundings and lack of resources. Medical professionals are sometimes reluctant to step forward in answer to the call, and there’s no obligation for them to do so. They might be first responders but they’re not paramedics and if it’s a situation they’re not trained to deal with they may make an announcement asking if there’s a doctor on board. Cabin crew have access to a medical kit and they’re trained to deal with medical emergencies, but only up to a point. ![]() If you’re travelling with a partner or friend, ask them to do it. ![]() While the most common medical problems that happen onboard are nausea or dizziness, if it’s something more serious, tell the cabin crew. ![]()
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