If you’re gonna have a heart attack, doing so with a plane load of cardiologist is a fortuitous way to go about it.
A 67-old-woman had a heart attack while travelling by plane. Like the lead to a punchline a call went out over the PA system. The passengers? 15 cardiologists en route to a conference.
Talk about an angel on your shoulder! Someone must’ve earned some seriously good karma for that kind of luck!
Of course had it been me, they all would’ve started arguing and squabbling with each other over procedure and protocal while I expired. I just know it.
This happened to my cousin on a flight to America. She was the only doctor and didn’t have a bag or anything, but was able to determine if they needed to re-route or not (not).
Yeah, as a doctor faced with a sudden health crisis situation, I feel pretty helpless with nothing more than my hands. No medicines, syringes, IVs, heart monitors, endotracheal tubes, or any of the other apparatus we use to save people’s lives. WhattamI supposed to do, CPR until the plane lands? I think you’d be a hell of a lot better off with an equipped EMS guy than a doctor with bare hands.
Of course, I solve most of my patients’ problems with a y-shaped incision.
True Story: The 35 year old catering manager of the hotel I used to work at in New Orleans was hosting a dinner. During the introductory speech, he suddenly fell to the floor unconscious grabbing his chest. The attendees were all John Hopkins trained cardiologists.
He died of a heart attack in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Sometimes being at the right place at the right time isn’t even enough to save you.
True, I was wondering if one of them had an emergency kit on hand and whether or not you can get such a thing on a plane with security being what it is.
A friend of mine is an EMT. She’s got some kind of first aid kit with her at all times. I should ask her what she takes with her on a plane, if she’s allowed to take anything at all.
Of course there is the, uh, converse: the bank robber who decided to practice his craft right across from the FBI building on pay day. Yes, it’s true. My mother had to defend the poor sucker. About 20 agents drew down on the guy.
A detail that never came out in court was scatalogical. They had to get him clean underwear at the local police station.
