Medical emergencies on airplanes can be life-threatening, as Lindsey Ulin’s experience on a Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix to Austin demonstrated.
Ulin, a physician, recognized that she was having an anaphylactic reaction and needed epinephrine immediately, but there was no epinephrine auto-injector on board.
Ulin’s life was ultimately saved by a doctor who was a passenger on the flight. He administered the needed medication using syringes found in the airline’s medical kit. In late April, Lindsey Ulin recounted the details of her distressing allergic reaction through a series of tweets.
According to Ulin, the form of epinephrine carried in the airline’s emergency kit could not be easily administered by the flight crew or the general public unless they were trained to do so.
As such, questions of whether airlines should carry epinephrine auto-injectors on all flights are arising, given the growing number of people with severe allergies. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) demands that airlines carry basic medical supplies and equipment, such as aspirin and a stethoscope, as well as devices for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but not epinephrine auto-injectors.
Epinephrine injections function by improving blood flow throughout the body and relaxing muscles that impede airways.
Incorporating epinephrine auto-injectors into the emergency medical kit could be a potentially life-saving measure. These devices are intended to be usable by anyone, including individuals without medical training, such as children. They possess a simple design and accompanying instructions that may include audio assistance.
Airlines are responsible for providing safe and secure travel for all passengers, including those with medical conditions. As a result, they are taking steps to improve their medical response capabilities, and some have begun carrying epinephrine auto-injectors on board.
In April 2021, the Aerospace Medical Association advised the FAA to require airlines to carry epinephrine auto-injectors and other allergy medications in both adult and child doses. The FAA is currently reviewing the emergency medical kit requirements.
In addition to carrying epinephrine auto-injectors, airlines could also consider adding automated blood pressure cuffs and Narcan to their emergency medical kits. Narcan is a medication that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, which can be fatal.
Travelers can take steps to protect themselves during flights as well. For example, wiping down seats, armrests, and tray tables upon boarding can reduce the risk of exposure to allergens.
Occurrences of medical emergencies during flights are relatively frequent. According to a 2013 study, there are dozens of such events on commercial flights every day in the United States. The majority of these cases are associated with stomach discomfort, anxiety, or a sense of impending fainting.