Chapter 42 - Yes, I can help - Feeling empowered to help with in-flight emergencies

Alex and Venk discuss the fundamental differences of caring for people during an in-flight emergency: what changes with oxygen and pressure, what is available to you, what are the expectations, and more. Both have been teaching about this scenario to others and have been present for several such encounters. They bring their expertise and the available literature to establish this level-setting chapter of the Always on EM Podcast. By the end of this, hopefully, you'll have zero hesitation standing with confidence that you can provide assistance in any event that arises and be as well prepared as anyone to do it. So, buckle up, put your seatbacks up, stow your laptops, and tune in to this high-flying chapter of Always on EM!

 

CONTACTS

X - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda

YouTube - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda

Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch

Email - [e-mail]

REFERENCES & LINKS

• Kim Y, Bae SC, Song YS. Exploring the potential of telehealth in-flight medical emergencies. Digit Health. 2025 Mar 13;11:20552076251326666. doi: 10.1177/20552076251326666. PMID: 40093698; PMCID: PMC11907535.
• Hawati SM, Binobaid F, Alsaeigh A, Alameer W, Al Ajmi AM, Alghamdi MK, Alqarni AA, Al-Harthi SN, Almelaifi A, Al Shehri AA. Assessing Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and ICU Doctors' Knowledge, Confidence, and Attitude in Managing In-Flight Medical Emergencies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus. 2025 Feb 1;17(2):e78359. doi: 10.7759/cureus.78359. PMID: 40046350; PMCID: PMC11880637.
• Hu JS, Smith JK. In-flight Medical Emergencies. Am Fam Physician. 2021 May 1;103(9):547-552. PMID: 33929167.
• Martin-Gill C, Doyle TJ, Yealy DM. In-Flight Medical Emergencies: A Review. JAMA. 2018 Dec 25;320(24):2580-2590. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.19842. PMID: 30575886.