At cruise onboard MD80S, passenger became ill. Flight crew diverted to alternate for medical attenti...

Attributes
ACN	408295
Time
Date	199807
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lit
State Reference	AK
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme tracon : lit tower : lit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	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	408295
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We had a passenger notify us (via call button) that her husband was feeling sick. #4 flight attendant administered oxygen and I paged for doctor. Four responded -- cardiologist, neurologist, psychologist and doctor. They immediately asked for a defibrillator, which most of our S80's are not equipped with yet. We did not have one on this aircraft. Doctor suggested we land as soon as possible, so we diverted to little rock, landing within 20 mins. Paramedics were immediately onboard and one commented that passenger probably had a heart attack (after looking at him). One of the doctors was really disappointed in our medical kit contents. Also blood pressure cuff didn't work. I submitted all of her suggestions to the company. When passenger was wheeled off, he was conscious and appeared more stable. (He had the dry heaves when we were airborne previously.) it was neat to see everyone come together (pilots, flight attendants, and passenger) to help this couple.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AT CRUISE ONBOARD MD80S, PAX BECAME ILL. FLC DIVERTED TO ALTERNATE FOR MEDICAL ATTN FOR PAX. FLT CONTINUED ON WITHOUT INCIDENT TO DEST.

Narrative: WE HAD A PAX NOTIFY US (VIA CALL BUTTON) THAT HER HUSBAND WAS FEELING SICK. #4 FLT ATTENDANT ADMINISTERED OXYGEN AND I PAGED FOR DOCTOR. FOUR RESPONDED -- CARDIOLOGIST, NEUROLOGIST, PSYCHOLOGIST AND DOCTOR. THEY IMMEDIATELY ASKED FOR A DEFIBRILLATOR, WHICH MOST OF OUR S80'S ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH YET. WE DID NOT HAVE ONE ON THIS ACFT. DOCTOR SUGGESTED WE LAND ASAP, SO WE DIVERTED TO LITTLE ROCK, LNDG WITHIN 20 MINS. PARAMEDICS WERE IMMEDIATELY ONBOARD AND ONE COMMENTED THAT PAX PROBABLY HAD A HEART ATTACK (AFTER LOOKING AT HIM). ONE OF THE DOCTORS WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN OUR MEDICAL KIT CONTENTS. ALSO BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF DIDN'T WORK. I SUBMITTED ALL OF HER SUGGESTIONS TO THE COMPANY. WHEN PAX WAS WHEELED OFF, HE WAS CONSCIOUS AND APPEARED MORE STABLE. (HE HAD THE DRY HEAVES WHEN WE WERE AIRBORNE PREVIOUSLY.) IT WAS NEAT TO SEE EVERYONE COME TOGETHER (PLTS, FLT ATTENDANTS, AND PAX) TO HELP THIS COUPLE.

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.

At cruise onboard MD80S, passenger became ill. Flight crew diverted to alternate for medical attention for passenger. Flight continued on without incident to destination.