Medical emergencies on planes

I saw a random reel yesterday on Instagram (some sort of influencer/ doctor person?) about a medical incident that occurred on her recent flight.

It got me reminiscing, because I have had to assist in a medical situation THREE times while traveling!

#1: The first one occurred years ago now, on a flight to Mexico. I was actually flying alone with the boys, and they were maybe ~2 and 4 years old at the time? Ivan was already down there and we were meeting him there.

They suddenly made that dreaded announcement, “Is there a doctor or nurse on the plane??” ……

I looked around and didn’t see anyone jumping up, so I of course got up, even though I was like, “Oh dear lord, what is the emergency?! Isn’t there someone on the plane who has actually ever done CPR on a real person and not just a mannequin?!” (I worked as an inpatient transplant nurse for 10 years, and while I had many close calls and serious situations, I fortunately never actually had to do CPR besides in trainings!)

Turns out, thankfully, no CPR was needed. A man (with a cognitive disability, also) who was traveling with his mother was having a seizure. They were Spanish speaking only, so it came in real handy that I speak Spanish. The man apparently had frequent seizures, per his mother, and it didn’t last too long, thankfully, but I assisted until everything was over.

I also remember that toddler Asher, who I had just up and left in the middle of the plane alone with Ethan, was not happy I was gone. He stood up on his seat and screamed “MA-MA!!” at the top of his lungs. 🤣🤣🤣 I remember “shushing” him loudly from across the plane while also trying to deal with the seizing man… And of course, the entire plane was already staring at me, since I went to assist, and everyone was looking to see, What is happening with the man up there?! As if flying alone with 2 little kids isn’t stressful enough! GOOD TIMES. haha.

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#2: The second time was actually in an airport, not a plane. This was during our 2017 Spain/Italy anniversary trip. Ivan and I were waiting in the line to board- I think it was our flight from Barcelona to Venice?

Anyway, we were waiting in the line and suddenly across the terminal an airport employee yelled out that same line, “Someone, help! Is there a nurse or a doctor?”

I would really feel a lot more confident with that request if I were an ER nurse!!! lol.

But, again, I glance around and see no one else moving (damn!), so I dropped my backpack and ran over there. This time it was an older man who had sort of collapsed and was half passed out on the ground. EEK.

He was traveling with his wife and they were also Spanish speaking. Guess Spanish has been a real asset for me! Ha.

Anyway, the details are a bit fuzzy, but he still had a pulse and everything and was still alert, though he seemed dizzy and very “out of it”. I ran through an assessment, asked questions, trying to think through possibilities (with zero medical equipment, of course…). The wife said he wasn’t diabetic, but I eventually learned he had just increased a blood pressure medication. Seemed to me like a syncopal episode, perhaps. Basically I think I ultimately just had him lay there and rest and drink some water once he was more alert. Some other medic person showed up too eventually and got some quick carbs, in case his blood sugar was low.

Unfortunately, I could not really stick around too long, because my plane was boarding!! He had perked back up and was talking, alert, seated in a wheelchair and seemed okay by the time I left. The wife was very gracious and offered me many thanks.

I remember the other people in the line applauding me as I came back to the line (EMBARASSING!) and they waved me ahead to the front of the line, like some sort of hero! 🤣 It was so nice, but I really didn’t do very much!! Ha.

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#3: The third time was just a couple years ago, during our June 2023 flight to Fort Lauderdale for my parents’ 50th Anniversary Family Cruise.

A young woman- maybe in her 20s?- had gone to the bathroom, and then on her way back, proceeded to stumble and fall right in front of my seat, almost on me. I literally jumped up and half caught her, lowering her into the empty seat in front of me.

She was all spacy and basically non-responsive, but breathing and had a pulse (still upright). She could talk a little and was answering my questions, but not making much sense and seemed really “zoned out”, if that makes sense.

For a minute I was like, omg is she having a stroke!??! We’re up in the air!!!

The flight attendants came running and eventually her brother (travel companion) realized what was happening and came back, too. We were talking through things and it all seemed very mysterious (NO medical history of any kind…) when he leaned over and whispered to me, “Well, um, she, um, took something before the flight.” I was like, “Took something?? Like, a medication?” And he said, “No, an, um, an edible.”

😆

Oh. Mystery solved! My heart rate came right down after that. She was fine, just high! LOL.

He ultimately got her back to her seat, she drank some water, and she was fine. Later I saw her by the baggage carousel looking more normal. 😉

I did get a $100 Delta travel voucher though, for “offering assistance during a medical situation”!

Have you ever had to assist in a public medical emergency??

In addition to these travel cases, I also had a guy pass out cold and completely fall off his barstool at our Mexican place a month ago. A BIG guy, too! Like, he just totally toppled off and over, completely unconscious!

I was like, oh crap, this is it, my CPR moment has come. He was out COLD. He had a large neck, but I was actually able to find a pulse, thankfully, and I could tell he was breathing (I thought maybe he had choked and no one had noticed? He was alone)… I had Ivan call 911 (the restaurant was almost empty, actually, besides a couple other tables).

I was not actually sure WHAT to do here, with no equipment. He just seemed… asleep? Again my thoughts went to hypoglycemia (but he had been drinking a margarita and eating a bunch of carbs, so seemed…unlikely?) and also went to a brain bleed maybe or some kind of cardiac event, but what could I do?! He had a pulse and was breathing…

Suddenly, he startled awake and sat straight up and looked VERY confused as to why he was on the floor and some lady was crouched over him.

I still really don’t know what happened! He said, “Oh, I got tired and I thought I was laying down into my bed.” (I’d had my back to him, but the bartender said before it happened he had laid his head down on his arms, like to go to sleep.) But how do you not wake up when you go tumbling to the floor?! Thankfully he sort of hit the other bar stool, which padded his fall, or it could have been much worse.

He was all sweaty, which concerned me. I tried to ask some questions, and I told him we had called 911 and he should wait to get checked out. But he said, No, thank you, I’m fine, I have an Uber waiting, and he left! It was super weird. Not sure if he was on some sort of drug?? Narcolepsy? I don’t know. He wasn’t drunk- he hadn’t even finished one drink. Super freaky though and almost gave me a heart attack.

Daily Gratitude:

I am grateful for my new carry on! We got 3 new suitcases recently for Ivan and the boys, but I needed one, too. Mine was very old and clunky and one where I had to pull it behind me, versus the wheels that go in all directions, know what I mean? I got this “dusty olive” one! (A Samsonite, same as the others, so they’re all similar style. :))