Heart Defibrillators

[727]

I just read that heart defibrillators will be installed at LAX and ONT. I am just wondering if defibrillators are already installed on some aircrafts??

[Tony]

We wil get them at KLM!

[Prada_Fake]

Heart Defib's

We carry them on BA. On our 744 and 777 a/c.
They are excellent when used to wake up the older members of cabin crew from their breaks on the longer flights...

[ImABarbieStud]

We have them at United. All our overwaters are equipped and they are on most of our airbusses. Several 757's are equipped already and I have even seen them on 727 and some 737.

I'm clear...you're clear...zappppp@#!@#@!

[NWAINSFO]

We have them on most of our aircraft, if not all of them now at Northwest Airlines. I've read in the paper recently that they are becoming more common-place in most public places (in the US anyway). Most airports have plans to install them if they don't already have them. I've also heard some shopping malls have installed them as well. They are a great tool that I hope I never have to use!

[Medevac]

The airline I work with has defibs in all the aircraft, and they have been used once or twice- successfully. I used to work as an emergency medical technician and can attest to their lifesaving properties. The ones carried are fully automated with vocal instructions that make them incredibly simple to use. You can even attach the pads to a pax/patient for use as an ECG. I am surprised that so many airlines don't stock them as standard equipment... being in an isolated environment away from emergency services, they could be critical items.

[ifly]

Austrian Airlines don´t have them http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/frown.gif ... but I surely wish they did...

[crosscheck]

We have them on all of our aircraft (Virgin Atlantic) and I believe that they've been used successfully on a number of occasions. Only the IFS and Pursers are trained to use them though. I think that they are an amazing piece of kit to have. Load one less bar cart and get a defib on!!!!!

[suthernbelle]

I am personally glad that my airline has installed defibs in most of its fleet. My father was a heart patient and due to the very poor condition of his heart, I suspect a defib would have been his only hope of sustaining life until landing (he did not fly when his heart became very bad.) I have seen them on 320s and some 757s because that is mainly what I fly. I am certain they can be found in our dc9s, 727s, dc10s and 747s.

I hope that I never, ever have to use it. However, I feel very confident about using a defib because the machine is "idiot proof" and all the fas received 4 hours training. I feel a lot more confident with a defib than I would with only mouth-to-mouth.

[Welcome_Aboard]

AA began putting automatic external defibrillators (AED) on airplanes in 1997. First on international flights, but now all AA airplanes are equipped with them. Since that time, they have been used over 300 times on AA passengers in the last three years...and not just onboard the airplane. There was a case in the DFW terminal. When a passenger collapsed at one of the gates, a quick thinking F/A ran down to the airplane, grabbed the AED, and began working on the passenger until paramedics arrived.

The latest figures I could find show that when the AED has been used on AA, shock was advised 18 times. Of those 18 passengers, 10 were saved by the AED. The first time an AED was used in-flight was on an AA flight in 1998. You can read about it at this web page: Click here (http://www.orcamedical.com/realstories.html)

And then there’s always this use suggested by Prada Fake...
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Verdana ">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Prada Fake:
They are excellent when used to wake up the older members of cabin crew from their breaks on the longer flights...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/grin.gif http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/grin.gif

[coflyguy]

Continental has them in most of our A/C,
specially on the 777's,767's & 757's, for now.

[727]

How about training, responsability, or are only doctors on board supposed to work with this equipment?

[Welcome_Aboard]

727,
The Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) that AAL has onboard their aircraft are not complicated to use. It ‘talks’ you through each step…advising the user to “apply pads” and “analyzing, do not touch the patient”, and, if needed, “shock advised”. If it’s extremely noisy and hard to hear the instructions, there is also a display on the unit where the user can read the instructions. All information is stored in the unit, to be read by medical personnel at a later time.

It is made to be almost foolproof. We have hands-on training each year, where we go through a one-on-one simulation of a cardiac arrest situation using the AED, with an instructor.

There is an article on the Aviation Today web site about AAL’s procedures and training on the AED. This is an excerpt from that article:
**American Airlines has invested three to four hours of training for all pursers and flight attendants to assure proficiency in AED use. According to Linda Campbell, a registered nurse at the carrier, training must take into account certain barriers to action in emergency medical situations aboard the aircraft. "We stress realism. Training needs to be done in this kind of closed space," she declared, referring to the confines of a cabin, where narrow seats, narrow aisles, other passengers and food carts all complicate access to the passenger and treatment. Flight attendants are trained to move the victim to the aisle. If necessary, CPR or the AED will be used "where the passenger drops," in the seat, if necessary.**

It’s a rather long article, but if you’re interested in reading more, Click here (http://www.aviationtoday.com/reports/safety1.htm).

The AED can be used by F/As. Also, in addition to the normal medical kits, AAL has what is called an ‘enhanced medical kit’ onboard all aircraft that can only be used by a physician.

It would be interesting to hear about other airlines.

[727]

welcome aboard and others,

thanks for your answers and especially the very interesting link!!

727

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People who invest in aviation are the biggest suckers in the world

[GalleyWench]

Delta Airlines used their defibs on a flight to save the life of a working cabin crew member! They wont even let us get out of work by trying to die!!

[This message has been edited by GalleyWench (edited October 03, 2000).]

[Welcome_Aboard]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Verdana ">quote:<HR>Originally posted by GalleyWench:
They wont even let us get out of work by trying to die!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

GalleyWench,
That is just too funny. http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/grin.gif Haven’t we all felt the same way at one time or another?!

If anyone is interested, here is a link to the story that GalleyWench is talking about: Click here (http://www.chainofsurvival.com/bdcheck2.html).

[CSMBilly]

Have a look at: www.qantas.com.au (http://www.qantas.com.au) ,go to "News Room", Media release dated 12 October.

There are some live pax on whom I would love to use the defibrillator! Unfortunately it's so automatic it won't work unless they're dead!

[Erin]

In the dutch newspaper "De Volkskrant" from last saturday, I read that mr. Youssef Eddini, spokesman for KLM explained why it took so long before KLM arranged to have them on board of KLM aircrafts: He explained that 7500 airline crewmembers had to be trained. Well, mr.Eddini, this is just wrong information in my opinion, I think that only the assistent-pursers and pursers will get this training, and not the flight attendants. Also not those who have a medical background. KLM is wasting the opportunities here! They should make a point system to become (assistant)purser and one of the qualifications should be a medical background and not only the languages, like french, which you don't speak anymore after you qualified for it!

Yes! I am mad!! http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/mad.gif

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If we are what we eat, then some pilots should eat more chicken

[CyBelgian]

We also carry them o/b Sabena a/c for a couple of years now. They can also be used for monitoring the patient.
(Hope we won't have to use them ourselves this week ! http://www.crewstart.com/ubb/images/icons/grin.gif )
Quite useful and reassuring, furthermore ours is safe and easy to use.

[Violette]

At UAL, there is an 8 hour course that we MUST complete. If we do not complete the course, we may not use the AED. Each FA will eventually complete the course. It is mandatory. I watched a lady die on one of my flights. We had the medical emergency kit out (from the cockpit...yes, there was a doctor on board) We did everything we could to try and save her. At the time, most of the aircraft were equipt w/ the AED. As a matter of fact, the one we were on HAD one at one time but it had been removed (I don't know why) and it was not available to us. Several of the FAs on board were already trained. I wish we had the AED on that flight. I don't know if it would have saved her, but it was worth a shot. I will never forget that flight. I will never forget that Pax or her family. Defibulators are WONDERFUL! Fly safe, Vio.

[Lisa]

At American Eagle, like AA, we have them on all of our aircraft. They were put into use In January of 2000. At first I was not pleased with the idea, while I relize that first aid is a part of our job, I was concerned that the use of AED should be kept to highly trained medical personel. I have since changed my mind. The AEDs that are provided on board and in public places make all the decisions for you. You are given instructions by the computer which tells you if a shock is necessary and if so when to give that shock. It is quite simple and I hope that no one fears there use. Definatly a life saving tool.

[skyhi]

I originally thought that AEDs should be used only by medical personnel. After training, I found out that I was wrong. I am glad we have AEDs at NWA.