Re: Airline medical equipment and the Paramedic, etc.

[Guest guest]

Well Gene, (I sense a bit of the lawyer in you, but maybe its just my lack

of sleep and the midnight nursing home runs keeping me on edge) LOL

Anyway, Yes there are AEDs onboard and they were put on in the Spring of

2000. I am not aware of any IV fluids in the EMK. I will investigate that

for you. If a person was to identify themselves as a Paramedic, they would

need to also produce verification of credentials. I am sure Medlink would

allow them to do what needs to be done. I know the Flight Attendants would

be more than Happy to have the assistance of a Paramedic. The first aid

training that FAs have is very basic but in my discoveries it is FAR more

rigorous than other airlines. The assistance of a Paramedic would be

welcomed, Additonally Medlink would welcome the assitance because they have

to make decisions on the ground about a person they cannot see and with a

trained medical person on board that makes there job a lot easier. Every

situation is on a case by case basis. Every inflight medical emergency is

throughly reviewed.

Hope this answers some of your questions, May I be excused from the witness

stand your honor? LOL

From: wegandy@...

Reply-To:

To:

Subject: Re: Airline medical equipment and the Paramedic, etc.

Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 21:36:20 EST

Re: 's SWA post.

You don't mention AEDs and IV fluids. Doesn't SWA carry AEDs yet? If not

when does it plan to do so? And why doesn't it? (I think Herb might need

it

at any time given the number cigarettes he smokes and the amount of whiskey

he drinks). I think this is mandated by, what, 2004? AA already carries

them and has had some great " saves. "

The other thing you didn't mention is what would happen if one identifies

her/himself as a Paramedic. Is MedLink going to permit a Paramedic to do

the

right stuff or do they have " paramedicitis? "

Gene

E. Gandy, JD, LP

EMS Professions Program

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX

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[Guest guest]

Very interesting post, . Thanks for the info. I

have a question, though...

Is SWA hiring yet? I actually had an interview

scheduled with AA for Sept 13th...No, I didn't even

bother going to it. But, I would love to go to work

for SWA. Does being a medic help in the hiring

process?

Thanks,

Connie

--- wrote:

> I can answer these questions. I have a been a

> Paramedic for about 12 years

> now and a couple of years ago I became a Southwest

> Airlines flight

> attendant. My wife and Mother-in-law are flight

> attendants as well.

>

> Anyway, in Flight attendant training you are trained

> in basic first aid.

> Since I was a Paramedic I naturally wanted to know

> all the ins and outs of

> being both a flight attendant and a Paramedic. There

> is what is called an

> EMK (Emergency Medical Kit) in the rear of the

> aircraft. In training we were

> told that only doctors could access it but I later

> found out some

> exceptions. The EMK is checked by ground maintenance

> and they have tamper

> seals and expiration dates on them, the contents are

> checked periodically.

> They include D50, Benedryl, Epi, BP kit, stethescope

> and misc

> syringes/needles. The flight attendants are not

> responsible for the contents

> so when and if the contents change we are not

> notified.

>

> For in-flight medical emergencies SWA Flight

> Attendants are instructed to

> call MedLink from any seat back phone. (we have an

> acess code to dial the

> number) This service connects you to the company,

> MedLink, with paid Doctors

> who provide guidance. The airlines pay big bucks for

> this service, but this

> service assumes all responsibility for the

> advice(medical direction) they

> give. They can instruct the flight attendants to

> open the EMK, give

> nitroglycerin, summon for medical help on the plane

> (is there a doctor on

> board?) etc... If a person was to identify

> themselves as a doctor your were

> to ask for verification. and let them talk to

> MedLink as needed, and Medlink

> could instruct this person to use the contents of

> the EMK. Medlink would

> make a decision about the seriousness of the pt's

> condition and coordinate

> with SWA dispatch and the captain to make an

> unscheduled landing if need be.

>

> Now there is also other equipment on the plane such

> as O2, first aid kits,

> gloves, CPR masks, and then misc. Items like ASA,

> dramamine, bandaids etc..

> These items are not part of the EMK.

>

> There are several Airlines who use Medlink for their

> inflight medical

> emergencies. There is another company in the US, but

> I dont know who they

> are. Some airlines like AA have thier own corporate

> medical director who has

> associates who takes call for their emergencies.

>

> Anyway,

>

> Thats it in a nut shell. Hope that answers your

> questions. Let me know if

> you have more. Let me know if I can answer anymore.

>

>

> , Lic-P, SWA F/A #51424

> EMS Director

> County EMS

>

>

>

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>

>

[Guest guest]

No further questions. The witness may be excused.

Thanks for the info. I actually have helped in the past with a MI and a CVA.

And I found the FAs to be very glad to have the help. Now I routinely tell

them when I get onboard and show my credentials.

I seldom fly SWA because AA is easier out of Tyler, since we don't have a

carrier that flies into Love. I wish we did.

GG

E. Gandy, JD, LP

EMS Professions Program

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX