What is the first step in responding to a medical situation aboard the aircraft?

What is the first step in responding to a medical situation aboard the aircraft?

• A. Check the scene is safe
• B. Determine the patient’s name
• C. Call for MedLink
• D. Check the medical tag

Answer: (A)

The first thing to focus on is ensuring the scene is safe for you and others. In any medical emergency, you don’t start treatment until you know you won’t be putting yourself at risk or creating new hazards. On a plane, hazards can be hidden: turbulence, spilled fluids, moving trolleys, electrical equipment, or crowded aisles. By quickly surveying for danger and making sure you can approach the patient without becoming a victim yourself, you set a solid foundation for any care you provide. Once the area is safe, you can proceed to assess the patient and decide on the next steps, such as calling for MedLink or checking for a medical tag, but nothing else should come before safety.

The first thing to focus on is ensuring the scene is safe for you and others. In any medical emergency, you don’t start treatment until you know you won’t be putting yourself at risk or creating new hazards. On a plane, hazards can be hidden: turbulence, spilled fluids, moving trolleys, electrical equipment, or crowded aisles. By quickly surveying for danger and making sure you can approach the patient without becoming a victim yourself, you set a solid foundation for any care you provide. Once the area is safe, you can proceed to assess the patient and decide on the next steps, such as calling for MedLink or checking for a medical tag, but nothing else should come before safety.