PIC of air carrier medium large transport declared an emergency for priority handling because a pass...

Attributes
ACN	85607
Time
Date	198804
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ave
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 5500
ASRS Report	85607
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other

Narrative:

En route ont to sjc, when at midway point, one passenger experienced cardiac arrest. I obtained direct routing to sjc. I sent first officer back to assist F/a and upon hearing his report, I declared an emergency with oak center to ensure priority handling. We informed ATC that we would maintain 280-300 KIAS below 10000. They informed us that would be no problem. ATC handling was very good. Upon reaching gate though, I was not happy with the paramedical team, as they seemed to lack a sense of urgency once the stairs were lowered. They took too much time boarding the aircraft. From the time of cardiac arrest to landing was approximately 30 mins. Our F/as administered life saving measures for the entire time while airborne, except for actual T/D. We learned later that the passenger did pass away.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC OF ACR MLG DECLARED AN EMERGENCY FOR PRIORITY HANDLING BECAUSE A PASSENGER HAD CARDIAC ARREST MIDWAY ENROUTE FROM ONT TO SJC.

Narrative: ENRTE ONT TO SJC, WHEN AT MIDWAY POINT, ONE PAX EXPERIENCED CARDIAC ARREST. I OBTAINED DIRECT ROUTING TO SJC. I SENT F/O BACK TO ASSIST F/A AND UPON HEARING HIS RPT, I DECLARED AN EMER WITH OAK CENTER TO ENSURE PRIORITY HANDLING. WE INFORMED ATC THAT WE WOULD MAINTAIN 280-300 KIAS BELOW 10000. THEY INFORMED US THAT WOULD BE NO PROB. ATC HANDLING WAS VERY GOOD. UPON REACHING GATE THOUGH, I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE PARAMEDICAL TEAM, AS THEY SEEMED TO LACK A SENSE OF URGENCY ONCE THE STAIRS WERE LOWERED. THEY TOOK TOO MUCH TIME BOARDING THE ACFT. FROM THE TIME OF CARDIAC ARREST TO LNDG WAS APPROX 30 MINS. OUR F/AS ADMINISTERED LIFE SAVING MEASURES FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WHILE AIRBORNE, EXCEPT FOR ACTUAL T/D. WE LEARNED LATER THAT THE PAX DID PASS AWAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

PIC of air carrier medium large transport declared an emergency for priority handling because a passenger had cardiac arrest midway enroute from ont to sjc.