Morning all
I wonder if I could offer up an opinion here as a former CC (soon to be again CC) and a currently practicing Registered Nurse with a coronary care/emergency care specialist qualification.
First of all the management of a heart attack. The patients survival (and the quality of it) depends on 4 main factors;
- Early recognition
- Early basic life support
- Early defibrilation (if required)
- Early advanced life support (i.e hospital admission)
Medics often refer to the first hour following the onset of a cardiac event as the "golden hour". Get all of the above within that hour and your chances not only of survival but also a good quality of life are increased dramatically.
Many airlines do carry drug kits only used by medical professionals. They do
not contain clot busters which are the drugs (amoung others) that save lives in a heart attack. There is a reason for this. The administration of these drugs well really beneficial is also extremely risky and needs specialist monitoring in order to correct the side effects which often occur.....some of these in themselves are lifethreatening. Paramedics are not even allowed to give clot busters on the way to hospital.
With regard to diversions
I worked for a carrier who had no AED on board, a very basic first aid kit no drugs kit at all and no medlink. Even though I am a highly qualified RN my usefulness in medical situationis was limited to advising the flight crew of the need (or not) in my professional opinion of the need for a diversion however the decision ultimately rests with the Captain.
Never in all my time flying have I ever met a Captain who would ignore the advice of a medical professional given in the best interests of a patient whether that advice was given by me or an onboard Doctor.
And diversions don't just happen for the obviously lifethreatening in my experience.......somebody in acute pain due to kidney stones for instance would necessiate a diversion if that pain could not be controlled on board with the resources avilable.
Hope this adds another perspective and clarifies the situation in relation to heart attacks.