United Airlines Passenger Sick Latest Updates and Travel Safety Tips

Flying at high altitudes can sometimes present health problems to air travelers. One United Airlines traveler recently fell ill during a mid-air flight, and discussion on onboard medical emergencies and airline procedures has ensued. This article reports what happens when a traveler falls ill during a flight and how United Airlines responds.

What Makes Travelers Sick in a Flight?

There are quite many causes why a traveler may be sick on an airplane:

Changes in Cabin Pressure: Dizziness and nausea occur with low oxygen levels. People who suffer from lung disease or anemia may need extra oxygen.

Dehydration: Cabins have poor humidity levels, and passengers start to become dehydrated and tired. Prolonged dehydration brings headaches, parched skin, and vulnerability to jet lag.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions: Guests with heart disease, diabetes, or other conditions may have their condition exacerbated. Altitude gain and immobility increase symptoms, occasionally to the point where immediate medical care is required.

Food Reactions or Allergies: Inappropriate gut-friendly food results in instant sickness. Bacterial crossovers’ contamination and hidden food allergies can cause an extreme or mild allergy that requires prompt intervention by emergency care.

Stress and Anxiety: The passengers get stressed and exhibit physical symptoms like inability to breathe or feeling sick. Stress may be tackled with the help of deep relaxation exercises and mindfulness training.

Blood Clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis): Excessive sitting in a small area is likely to lead to the blood clotting tendency, especially for the legs. As a prevention measure against this, one has to shift legs to change posture, drink plenty of water, and use compression stockings if possible.

Viral and Bacterial Infections: Airborne viruses and bacteria are extremely contagious in enclosed spaces, and are most likely to cause flu-like symptoms among some of travelers. Hand washing frequently and hand sanitizers may lower the risk of infection.

How United Airlines Handles Medical Emergencies Mid-Flight

United Airlines Passenger Sick Response to In-Flight Medical Emergencies

If a passenger becomes sick on board, United Airlines has strict medical protocols for safety:

Crew Aid: Flight attendants are certified first aid, assess the severity of illness, take vital signs, provide basic care, and provide oxygen when needed. If the sickness is minor, they can provide over-the-counter medication, hydrate, or reposition the passenger.

Defibrillators and Medical Kits: Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and in-flight medical emergency kits are available on airplanes. The emergency kits include bare minimum items such as epinephrine for anaphylactic shock, painkillers, band-aids, and cardiac arrest resuscitation kits. Flight crew members have been trained to apply the kits during all kinds of medical emergencies.

Paging Doctors: The flight attendants will, as a final measure, ask if there is a doctor or medical professional onboard to assist. Most flights carry medical-passenger passengers who can administer primary treatment, administer medication, or stabilize the patient to get him or her to their destination. In a few cases, the doctor does page ground medical personnel to administer treatment.

Ground Medical Contact: United Airlines also has a deal with MedAire, a medical group that provides consultation to flight crew members in real-time. Physicians at MedAire help evaluate the severity of the condition, recommend treatment, and determine if an emergency landing is required or not. The center gives flight crew members access to physicians even at 35,000 feet.

Emergency Landing: On standby, the flight can be diverted to the nearest airport for an immediate medical checkup. The pilots request air controllers to choose a suitable airport concerning the closest hospital distance, weather, and level of urgency in the case. Standby doctors are ready to administer more treatment and take the passenger to the hospital as the need arises.

Preventive Measures for Travelers

Stay Hydrated

Air used in airplane cabin conditions is very dry, and dryness will most probably lead to dehydration, which will trigger headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. On board, in a flight, to maintain hydration, a person would have to consume water in humongous amounts, at least 8 ounces (240 ml) water per hour of flight.

A refillable bottle and filling it after security screening is an accessible water reservoir. Avoid salty foods so that you do not get dehydrated since the body loses excess water due to excess sodium. Also, hydrating facial sprays and lip balm avoid dehydration and skin irritation and keep you fresh while traveling by air.

Avoid Alcohol & Caffeine

Although a glass of wine or a cup of coffee is a pleasant thing to drink when on an airplane relaxing, both alcohol and caffeine dry out your body and mouth and will ruin sleep. They make you nauseous, give you headaches, and create worse jet lag, so if you have to indulge, have one only and then a glass of water afterwards.

Similarly, caffeine causes urination, leading to the loss of excess water, and also causes dehydration when there are long flights. Having coffee or energy drinks replaced with herbal tea or water aids in maintaining appropriate hydration levels and one does not feel as much pain during the flight.

Bring Medicines

For patients with illness, the drug in the cabin bag as well as keeping it in the stored bag is crucial. To carry a list of medications prescribed as part of emergency care or for therapy is essential. Additionally, carrying painkillers from an over-the-counter counter is wise in order to use the same if a headache or a muscle ache does occur.

Final Thoughts 

Flight medical emergencies are stressful, but United Airlines is prepared to address them efficiently. Whether a mere discomfort or a serious health condition, passengers can trust the trained flight crew and in-flight medical supplies to aid them. If you have frequent medical problems while traveling by air, visit a physician before departure to guarantee a safe and enjoyable flight.