A respiratory therapist who provided CPR on an old man has concerns with how the medical emergency was managed on a WestJet flight.
Unforeseen ordeal
Brittany Lardner who works at the Foothills hospital in Calgary was in the flight from Honolulu to Calgary when she heard flight attendants asking if there was a nurse or a doctor was on board. She immediately volunteered and identified herself to the attendant that she could help if the situation needs CPR or a lung problem. She went to the front of the plane, and saw the old man who was unconscious on the floor and a nurse was already providing CPR on him.
Lardner suggested that there is a need for an AED or automated defibrillator and a bag or a mask so that they can provide rescue breaths. There was plenty of confusion and all the crew realized the problem and how serious the situation and nobody cannot find the AED. It was about 12-15 minutes before the AED was found. Lardner immediately operated the AED and provided CPR on the old man with the help of two nurses and some passengers.
According to Lardner, the AED a small device that analyzes the rhythm of the heart through its pad was not able to find a shockable rhythm. There is a possibility that it can be due to the condition of the old man or due to disturbances from the movements of the plane. After 45 minutes, the old man was still unconscious and with no pulse. A physician on board the plane, who also provided help, declared the old man is already dead. They moved the old man into the seat, and strap him properly before the plane lands.
Lardner has very serious concerns about the confusions and inability of the crews in finding an AED. It’s something that needs to be improved. They also lack of debriefing or grief counseling of the passengers who are seated near or around the dead man and some passengers who witnessed the incident. Furthermore, Lardner was not sure the delay in finding the AED caused the death, as the man is already old and suffering from other medical condition. She was shocked why the old was allowed to fly.
Before the flight, Lardner already noticed the old man in medical distress, and looked very unwell. He was already talking to a medic and a flight attendant told me that the man was given clearance to travel.
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LEARN MORE
Learn how to help by enrolling in a first aid course and for more information, check out these sources:
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/cardiopulmonary-resuscitation-cpr-treatment
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cpr/basics/art-20056600
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_external_defibrillator