HOT TOPIC!!! What to do???!!!!

[Tamme]

Ok, I have a Question for you all!!!!

You all know that there is a Number of People within all the Companies, that are HIV+.
What do you think of this???
Normally, each Company expects those to identify themselves and step back from the Airline Business.
Do you know any infected People, any Friends???
What do you think??? What Behaviour should be correct?? Is it Ok, that they keep on Flying, until the Desease breaks out, or is it a Public Threat to Everbody´s Health????
I don´t know Anyone, at least not Personally that I would know of, but if I would, I actually would not know what to do!
On the one Hand, I think that it is quite Self-centered and irresponsible to Everybody around, on the other Hand, I can truly understand, why Someone would continue to Fly without telling the Company or Anyone else.
What would you do??? Please share your Thoughts with me! images/icons/blush.gif

[brownbat]

Unless they plan on bleeding into someone else's open wound, I don't think they need to withdraw from the work environment! Ya can't catch it by sharing a jumpseat.

[Tamme]

Of course not, Honey,
but you know how many "stupid" Incidents we have on Board. There is tons of Opportunities to hurt Yourself! images/icons/frown.gif

[exBEKL2B]

Actually Tamme,you're right, I NEVER EVER thought about it, but you are right about "accidents can happen really fast when working".
I don't know anyone who has this,but I cannot stick to an opinion,cause it's true that you don't get it when being seated on the same jumpseat,but still,they're ill.
I'd really have to think about this one!
images/icons/blush.gif

[drhale]

U.S. Pilots with HIV, not AID's, are medically approved by the FAA on a case by case basis.

Like many other medical conditions, approval requires an extensive documentation demonstrating good physical and mental health.

The FAA protocol can be viewed at:
http://www.leftseat.com/hiv.htm

David Hale

[Kitten_of_the_Sky]

I would think if passengers can fly HIV+ then so can the flight attendants. I flew with a guy who was very open that he had HIV. We hung out and partied. I wasn't worried at all.

I will tell you what does worry me. They were trying to put a passenger and his wife/caretaker on our flight. They had come in from mexico and the man had come down 1 week ago with some type of disease that was deteriorating his brain and he was like a zombie. And they wanted to put him on my flight so he could go up up Chicago to find out what was happening.

Now the Mexican doctors didn't know what he had but all the supervisors were saying "oh hes ok, they don't know whats eating his brain but hes not contagious."

HELLO. They don't know what it is but hes not contagious? That makes no sense!! And the Hub Supervisor is making a special trip to tell us all this because its just such the normal operations - oh and that on the flight in from mexico he was throwing up and the paramedics had to meet him when the plane landed.????????

We were in a big ruckus about whether to let him on. Flight attendants against. Pilots for. OF course!!!!! When they never showed up for departure....... THANK GOD

[ 02-01-2002: Message edited by: Kitten of the Sky ]</p>

[AirBag]

I don't know. I suppose that as with every illness certain precautions have to be taken.
Everything is a calculated risk.

If I didn't have any reason to I don't suppose I would tell people I was HIV+ if I had it, just like I don't often tell people I like the chocloate flavour baby food we have on board.

If I did cut myself and start to bleed I'd think it was in other people's interest to know so that they didn't put themselves at risk.

[skygirl30]

I do have a friend who's positive. One thing we all need to remember is this: If they're able to work, that usually means they're feeling pretty good. If they're feeling not so okay, they won't. But as for disclosure... I think it's up to every individual to decide for themselves. I'd be more afraid to get TB or pneumonia from some passenger flying in from Mex. with his brain deteriorating than catching HIV from a crewmember.. Bottom line.. as easy as it can be to get AIDS, it's equally as hard to catch it.. You have to literally have an open sore on your own body and come into contact with their open sore quickly enough to not allow the oxygen to get ahold of the virus... THINK ABOUT IT! This is 2002 people.. We know it's not a "gay" disease. And that anyone can be fair game, but we also know EXACTLY how to contract this virus. BUT for some reason, we're still having discussions about whether or not someone should be FORCED to disclose something he/she may or may not have completely come to terms with themselves. Yes, accidents do happen in the air.. but don't we deal with passengers' vomit, nose-bleeds, cuts, etc. on a daily basis??? We do have haz-mat kits on board... so if a crew-member (who is pretty much your family for 3-4 days while away) needs assistance... and he/she tells you at that point that they are HIV pos. then go get your haz-mat kit, call med-link and land the damn plane.. just like any other emergency or situation that would require a medical response. And that's all I have to say on the subject! images/icons/frown.gif

[basejumper]

Had to make myself calm down a bit before I started to type this time. First, it's attitudes like this that keep people from disclosing this kind of information in the first place. When would be a good time to share this? During the briefing? On the jumpseat before take-off? What, exactly, are you going to do differently during the trip now that you know that the person you're working with is HIV+? Second, we are trained to deal with ANY kind of bodily fluid as haz-mat material. This goes for the flight crew as well as the passengers. We deal with blood, etc. the same way each and every time regardless of how "infected" we think the person could be. Believe it or not, there are far worse things out there on our flights every day . Precaution and common sense are our first and best line of defense. Your question was valid, and I hope you meant it when you asked for honest opinions. Maybe I over-reacted at first, but I just got a flash of "HIV+" buttons on uniforms.
Also, in fairness, I lost the love of my life quite recently who encountered horrible ignorance and prejudice the last several months he was flying (different carrier).

[GayLM_royal_butch_airlines]

Take care, be aware

that's what you should do. Everybody is capable of having HIV. So just be aware, it's not ebola, so in normal contact, just like flying can be normal, there should be no reason for being afraid of People with aids or HIV.
If you would know how many passengers have any contagious disease, you would stop flying at this instant. It's dangerous out there, but HIV isn't the biggest, just take care, be aware!

many happy landings!

GayLM

[Wings25]

Hi Tamme,
i know couple of HIV+ guys working for LH.Believe me there are much more than you think!You will never notice if one person HIV+ or not if he is in a good health.I think that those people can count on us, because F/A are open-minded, or?!