My first medical emergency!
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My first medical emergency!
I've only been on-line for just under two months and had my first medical emergency. It was serious enough to divert. I've written what happened for non-crew, so sorry if it sounds really obvious, but I really couldn't be bothered to type it all out again!!!
"I was doing Palma and then Aberdeen and it was such a long day. We were doing our last flight back to London from Aberdeen and we were released from service and we finally managed to get organised and started the bar service. I was halfway up the cabin wehn I noticed this lady looking really strange. Her eyes didn't look right and I just stopped and stared at her. It seemed like ages, but it must have been seconds before I realised she wasn't well at all. I turned to my collegue and said, "She's not right, do an emergency call to the others" so she rang the call bell six times, which means we have an emergency. Before I could make sense of what was happening the other crew were with us and were assisting the passenger. She was fitting and being sick and it was awful to watch. I was just standing there helpless as there is nothing you can do for an epileptic fit. The others just took over instantly and the supervisor went to notify the pilot. When she went into the flight deck the pilot was pre-occupied with engine trouble!!! The passenger was grey and couldn't even focus on us her eyes were just rolling and she was out of it. It was then the pilot made a pa and said we were diverting to Glasgow and we had four minutes to landing. There was stuff everywhere and the cabin was no-where near secure. I just went in to action mode and put everything away and secured the cabin by myself while the others helped the lady and gave her oxygen e.t.c. Before I knew it we were on the ground surrounded by all the emergency services and we opened the doors and the police and ambulance came on board to assist the passenger. After about half an hour they got off without the lady as she was declared fit enough to fly and we made our way back to London!!! It was a very quiet flight and for once the passengers all did what they were told instantly and didn't complain. They were all brilliant and really understanding and we gave them all the drink they wanted!!!!"
"I was doing Palma and then Aberdeen and it was such a long day. We were doing our last flight back to London from Aberdeen and we were released from service and we finally managed to get organised and started the bar service. I was halfway up the cabin wehn I noticed this lady looking really strange. Her eyes didn't look right and I just stopped and stared at her. It seemed like ages, but it must have been seconds before I realised she wasn't well at all. I turned to my collegue and said, "She's not right, do an emergency call to the others" so she rang the call bell six times, which means we have an emergency. Before I could make sense of what was happening the other crew were with us and were assisting the passenger. She was fitting and being sick and it was awful to watch. I was just standing there helpless as there is nothing you can do for an epileptic fit. The others just took over instantly and the supervisor went to notify the pilot. When she went into the flight deck the pilot was pre-occupied with engine trouble!!! The passenger was grey and couldn't even focus on us her eyes were just rolling and she was out of it. It was then the pilot made a pa and said we were diverting to Glasgow and we had four minutes to landing. There was stuff everywhere and the cabin was no-where near secure. I just went in to action mode and put everything away and secured the cabin by myself while the others helped the lady and gave her oxygen e.t.c. Before I knew it we were on the ground surrounded by all the emergency services and we opened the doors and the police and ambulance came on board to assist the passenger. After about half an hour they got off without the lady as she was declared fit enough to fly and we made our way back to London!!! It was a very quiet flight and for once the passengers all did what they were told instantly and didn't complain. They were all brilliant and really understanding and we gave them all the drink they wanted!!!!"
Join Date: Feb 2000
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Well welcome to the world stanleystan and I can understand your posting on this subject. I remember my first one, and I wanted to talk about it too!
For every 10/20/100/1000 days work we do, there' s the one where we make the difference. Be proud of your actions today - you just helped someone in need, and there aint no better way of earning a living. Those days are why we all became Cabin Crew. Have a drink - you earned it.
For every 10/20/100/1000 days work we do, there' s the one where we make the difference. Be proud of your actions today - you just helped someone in need, and there aint no better way of earning a living. Those days are why we all became Cabin Crew. Have a drink - you earned it.
Last edited by TightSlot; 17th Sep 2004 at 09:10.
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Well Done!!! Have 3, 4 , 5, 6, drinks!!!!!!!!!! It sucks the first few you have, but yes the rush and sence of achievement when difficult situations just 'click' is amazing. Well done this is what we train for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shame a pay rise doesn't follow ha ha ha ha
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Yes, well done. It is frightening when things like this happen, and it's great to hear that your training helped you 'come through' when it was required.
Celebrate! It's not every day that you get to help someone out, and who knows, next time it may even save someone's life (and that's a GREAT feeling).
Keep on smiling!
Celebrate! It's not every day that you get to help someone out, and who knows, next time it may even save someone's life (and that's a GREAT feeling).
Keep on smiling!
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Well done. I am myself feeling pretty bad. I had a guy of 55 have a heart attack on my flight last night coming home from TFS, I had to use the de-fib and shock him once, we got him back but he remained unconcious, we diverted immediately into Lisbon where he was seen and taken by paramedics.
I felt extremely frightened and couldnt stop shaking ,you never know how you will cope in a new situation. I know I did everything that I have been taught but I cant stop thinking about what I did and maybe what I should have done etc etc. to be honest not feeling very confident now about flying again as a No.1. But at least he left the aircraft alive but funny enough it still doesnt make me feel any better.
I felt extremely frightened and couldnt stop shaking ,you never know how you will cope in a new situation. I know I did everything that I have been taught but I cant stop thinking about what I did and maybe what I should have done etc etc. to be honest not feeling very confident now about flying again as a No.1. But at least he left the aircraft alive but funny enough it still doesnt make me feel any better.
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to be honest not feeling very confident now about flying again as a No.1
)Have a word with the office .Its happened before , many times. It may help to talk to someone else who has gone through the same?
atb
shttkr
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Topdog1, the way you feel right now is normal & natural for someone who has been through what you describe.
Not nice, but normal & natural to berate yourself, to wonder if you effed up big time, to doubt your own abilities and to be nervous about flying as No1 again.
Unless you are an overconfident bull**** artist, people like us who are not confronted with these matters on a daily basis, will suffer the after effects.
It just shows that you're human mate.
It takes time for your emotions to work through this, but you will get back your confidence. Honest.
For the 'work through period', here are a few things that have helped me in the past, no idea if they do the same for you, but here goes anyway.
As to your last remark, about perhaps you should have done something different. Well yes, perhaps you could and should have. Looking back at emergency situations, there are always things we could have done better. Always!
That's tough to live with, but unless you want to become a desk bound pen pusher, it's a reality you will have to come to terms with.
Give it time, talk about it a lot and accept that Super(wo)man only exists in the movies. If you find that there are things you could have done better, learn from it and try to move on.
Perhaps you will find that in fact you did a hell of a good job and are now suffering from a mild dose of post traumatic stress.
Good luck, and for what it's worth, I think you did really well!
Not nice, but normal & natural to berate yourself, to wonder if you effed up big time, to doubt your own abilities and to be nervous about flying as No1 again.
Unless you are an overconfident bull**** artist, people like us who are not confronted with these matters on a daily basis, will suffer the after effects.
It just shows that you're human mate.
It takes time for your emotions to work through this, but you will get back your confidence. Honest.
For the 'work through period', here are a few things that have helped me in the past, no idea if they do the same for you, but here goes anyway.
- If the de-fib machine told you to shock the man, that means he needed to be shocked and would have probably died if you hadn't used it. Points for doing your job well right there.
- It is not at all par for the course that a patient 'comes back' as you describe. More points to you that he did.
- He left the AC alive; thanks to your intervention. Points to whom?
As to your last remark, about perhaps you should have done something different. Well yes, perhaps you could and should have. Looking back at emergency situations, there are always things we could have done better. Always!
That's tough to live with, but unless you want to become a desk bound pen pusher, it's a reality you will have to come to terms with.
Give it time, talk about it a lot and accept that Super(wo)man only exists in the movies. If you find that there are things you could have done better, learn from it and try to move on.
Perhaps you will find that in fact you did a hell of a good job and are now suffering from a mild dose of post traumatic stress.
Good luck, and for what it's worth, I think you did really well!
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Thanks alot for your support, I needed it. I do feel alot better now having spoken to a friend of mine who is a nurse and she told me that what I had done was spot on.
As you say, I know that I am suffering from a small dose of post traumatic stress and of course lack of sleep, it will all seem better tomorrow I am sure.
Thanks again.
XXX
As you say, I know that I am suffering from a small dose of post traumatic stress and of course lack of sleep, it will all seem better tomorrow I am sure.
Thanks again.
XXX
