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Flight attendant on MD80 is told that a passenger needs oxygen. He had 2 prior heart attacks. Captain informed and medical emergency declared.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 379412 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199709 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : yyz |
| State Reference | FO |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zob |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | Other Other |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight attendant : on duty |
| Qualification | other other : other |
| ASRS Report | 379412 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other other : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency other |
| Consequence | Other |
Narrative:
Passenger's wife requested oxygen for her husband. She told another flight attendant that her husband had a heart condition with 2 prior heart attacks. Flight attendant #3 obtained oxygen and administered it. I came back to check on his condition initially, then periodically, while informing the captain on the situation. Passenger condition did not improve. We declared (captain) an emergency landing. Upon descent, passenger condition worsened. Passenger may have stopped breathing during landing. All flight attendants were in their jump seats for landing after performing their final cabin checks and safety related duties. Unfortunately we were not able to perform cpr due to the unlikely timing. As flight attendants we have many responsibilities. Obviously we were very concerned with this 1 passenger. However, we do have a responsibility to the rest of the passenger as well. Time did not allow for any further actions with this passenger and preparing cabin for a safe landing. As it turned out, the passenger had a heart attack. Maybe a defibrillator may have helped (if we once again had the time). However, we do not carry these on board our domestic aircraft.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLT ATTENDANT ON MD80 IS TOLD THAT A PAX NEEDS OXYGEN. HE HAD 2 PRIOR HEART ATTACKS. CAPT INFORMED AND MEDICAL EMER DECLARED.
Narrative: PAX'S WIFE REQUESTED OXYGEN FOR HER HUSBAND. SHE TOLD ANOTHER FLT ATTENDANT THAT HER HUSBAND HAD A HEART CONDITION WITH 2 PRIOR HEART ATTACKS. FLT ATTENDANT #3 OBTAINED OXYGEN AND ADMINISTERED IT. I CAME BACK TO CHK ON HIS CONDITION INITIALLY, THEN PERIODICALLY, WHILE INFORMING THE CAPT ON THE SIT. PAX CONDITION DID NOT IMPROVE. WE DECLARED (CAPT) AN EMER LNDG. UPON DSCNT, PAX CONDITION WORSENED. PAX MAY HAVE STOPPED BREATHING DURING LNDG. ALL FLT ATTENDANTS WERE IN THEIR JUMP SEATS FOR LNDG AFTER PERFORMING THEIR FINAL CABIN CHKS AND SAFETY RELATED DUTIES. UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PERFORM CPR DUE TO THE UNLIKELY TIMING. AS FLT ATTENDANTS WE HAVE MANY RESPONSIBILITIES. OBVIOUSLY WE WERE VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS 1 PAX. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE REST OF THE PAX AS WELL. TIME DID NOT ALLOW FOR ANY FURTHER ACTIONS WITH THIS PAX AND PREPARING CABIN FOR A SAFE LNDG. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE PAX HAD A HEART ATTACK. MAYBE A DEFIBRILLATOR MAY HAVE HELPED (IF WE ONCE AGAIN HAD THE TIME). HOWEVER, WE DO NOT CARRY THESE ON BOARD OUR DOMESTIC ACFT.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.