Have you ever treated or assisted a sick person in the air?

[CordMcNally]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Zaphod wrote:

You guys are scaring me. Its never happened and now I am thinking it will tomorrow. Though coming from LA going to this conference theres a high likelihood of a real doctor being on the plane. Unless someone comes down with a case of needing implants stat, I cant imagine being of any use.

Click to expand…

Is there a medical professional on board the aircraft? We have an in-flight emergency in seat 36D.

Click to expand...

I think the lady in 36B would like to switch seats to 36D.

[PhysicianOnFIRE]

That didn't take long. Enough points for a round trip to Central America, where I happen to be going next month.

 

[jfoxcpacfp]

Happening live right now on the flight back from conference. My seat mate pulled out his stethoscope and took off for the front. Had no clue i was sitting next to a medical person.

[jfoxcpacfp]

Making an emergency landing, yikes.

[PhysicianOnFIRE]

jfoxcpacfp wrote:

Making an emergency landing, yikes.

Click to expand...

How did that turn out? Did you hear what was going on with the passenger? Did you make it home? Was the doctor on board a whitecoat investor on the way home?

[jfoxcpacfp]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

jfoxcpacfp wrote:

Making an emergency landing, yikes.

Click to expand…

How did that turn out? Did you hear what was going on with the passenger? Did you make it home? Was the doctor on board a whitecoat investor on the way home?

Click to expand...

Apparently she was hypoglycemic and passed out twice. There was an EM doc on board, also. I've never been on a flight that had to make an emergency landing, it was a little scary. She was in the first row so all of the passengers were excited and watching. The flight attendant got his name and other identifying info before we landed. (Yay - free drink tickets!!!) I didn't ask his name but told him he was now part of a WCI thread lol.

Just by happenstance, I sat next to a physician going to UT and coming home from UT. Neither had heard of WCI!!! It amazes me how few docs in the "real world" have no clue about the online physician finance community. The one on the way home asked me the url of the website again as we were deplaning. His daughter wants to go to med school and he wants her to start learning about finance.

[PhysicianOnFIRE]

Happened again on my flight home from SLC last night. That's twice in five days, both on return trips to MSP.

Again, it was syncope / near syncope, but it happened more than once, so I started an IV and was able to give the patient a liter of fluid before we landed. Also some juice for the sugar, just in case.

Once all was calm, the flight attendant asked for my info, including Skymiles account, and she said she was giving me a $150 credit. Not as generous as AA -- they gave me enough to book a flight to Honduras -- but better than a pat on the back or a couple Slim Jims, which another doc told me was his reward once.

Be safe out there! And please drink plenty of fluids.

[Update: Got this via e-mail to confirm]

[q-school]

dang i didn't have to help anyone but they lost my luggage and i almost missed my connection.

meanwhile pof gets to be someone's idol at the conference, a hero on the plane, and gets freebies for his good deed.

[Zaphod]

Seriously, thats like 3 for 3 POF, you've got some luck.

[jfoxcpacfp]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Happened again on my flight home from SLC last night. That’s twice in five days, both on return trips to MSP.

Again, it was syncope / near syncope, but it happened more than once, so I started an IV and was able to give the patient a liter of fluid before we landed. Also some juice for the sugar, just in case.

Once all was calm, the flight attendant asked for my info, including Skymiles account, and she said she was giving me a $150 credit. Not as generous as AA — they gave me enough to book a flight to Honduras — but better than a pat on the back or a couple Slim Jims, which another doc told me was his reward once.

Be safe out there! And please drink plenty of fluids.

[Update: Got this via e-mail to confirm]

Click to expand...

Can you let us know your itinerary in the future? No offense and I love you like a brother, but I’d like to avoid sharing a flight with you.

[Miss Bonnie MD]

I once helped a lady for syncope. Not that anyone wants a dermatologist to be the only doctor on a plane.

[G]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Happened again on my flight home from SLC last night. That’s twice in five days, both on return trips to MSP.

Again, it was syncope / near syncope, but it happened more than once, so I started an IV and was able to give the patient a liter of fluid before we landed. Also some juice for the sugar, just in case.

Once all was calm, the flight attendant asked for my info, including Skymiles account, and she said she was giving me a $150 credit. Not as generous as AA — they gave me enough to book a flight to Honduras — but better than a pat on the back or a couple Slim Jims, which another doc told me was his reward once.

Be safe out there! And please drink plenty of fluids.

[Update: Got this via e-mail to confirm]

Click to expand...

Dude, this is like a serious black cloud NOT something good!!!

I've been Gold or Platinum forever and haven't been called since my daughter was in utero.  So that is (conservatively) 50k/yr x 9 years or around 450,000 airmiles with no need for a doc.  Johanna, you can fly with me if it would make you more comfortable.

(And I fully understand that I am fully hosing myself for the next 450k....)

[nachos31]

Miss Bonnie MD wrote:

Not that anyone wants a dermatologist to be the only doctor on a plane.

Click to expand...

I dunno, if he/she looks a little pale, derm would be all over it  8O

[VagabondMD]

I think we should stage these in air emergencies as the latest travel hacking gimmick.

I will see if my wife (different last name) will pretend to faint on our next flight and will report back!

Edit: I have checked with my wife, and she is not willing to participate in this "Bonnie and Clyde scam."

[ENT Doc]

An interesting article about this dynamic in Bloomberg:

Is There a Doctor Aboard? Airlines Often Hope Not - Bloomberg
https://apple.news/AF2SXuAg8RlqleyqaUSW4Kw