Medical Problems in Commercial Flight: Shortage of Airport Medical Facilities

Abstract

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. If the heart-attack victim is unfortunate enough to be at an airport, the prognosis for survival is exceedingly low, unless vigorous treatment begins immediately. Currently, there are only four fully staffed medical facilities operating at U.S. airport terminals, a fact that should be unacceptable. With the increase in air travel, cases of medical emergencies at the terminals and on board aircraft will inevitably increase. The rise in contagious diseases also could hamper the efficiency of aircraft flight. To save lives, to increase the expediency of emergency quarantine procedures, or, at the very least, to prevent unnecessary medical-emergency landings, telemedicine should be considered for use on board all major airline carriers and in airport medical facilities.

Author

• Dowsett, Norma Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University