AFF Member in Mid-Air Medical Emergency

[coolumbla]

SLightly off topic but does this mean that if i sit between bossreggie and QF009 at lunch i can't eat my favourites of satay prawns?

I haven't forgotten the sydney lunch QF009

coolumbla

Glad all ended up well bossreggie

 

[RB]

I note that OP has mentioned ICE card & think that this may be an appropriate time for all AFF members to ensure that they have ICE numbers on their mobiles.
Good to hear all seems Ok bossreggie

 

[drron]

SLightly off topic but does this mean that if i sit between bossreggie and QF009 at lunch i can't eat my favourites of satay prawns?

I haven't forgotten the sydney lunch QF009

coolumbla

Glad all ended up well bossreggie

As long as you take 2 Epipens and are ambidextrous there should be no problem
But bossreggie the fact that a lot of restaurants,caterers etc dont put down the complete list of ingredients is a problem that is all too common.

 

[david870mdg]

As a lawyer I am sure QF will have policies in place to cover their bases.
That being said;
I must feel for the OP. Being told NO by an FA then to have the reaction.
Interesting to see how this pans out....

 

[medhead]

Nut allegy is a very difficult thing. I went to uni with someone who had an anaphlaytic (however it's spelt) reaction if the same utensils were used to cook a nut containing meal and their non-nut containing meal. bloody scary because asking if it contains nuts is no protection.

I would also suggest that the best option beside notes in the wallet is a medi-alert bracelet. Certainly if as bad as my friend.

Glad everything worked out for the best.

 

[munitalP]

bossreggie, I am glad you have come out of this all right - wow, I am glad my only allergic reaction is to restaurant bills!

The fact your reaction is so sever, on a simple 3 hour flight, is it worth risking your life for a meal? If I was in your shoes, I would be waiting till I got home to eat and making most of a couple of good QF J Chardy's in lieu...

Anyway, a good outcome for a **** situation....

Mr!

 

[2muchplastic]

SLightly off topic but does this mean that if i sit between bossreggie and QF009 at lunch i can't eat my favourites of satay prawns? ....

I suppose you could - at least you know they're not going to nick your meal!:mrgreen:

Glad to hear that all turned out well bossreggie, I'm thankful I don't suffer with any allergies.

 

[RSD]

Glad you have made a good recovery from this bossreggie - it sure would have been a scary experience, especially if it was your first time.

As someone who has high level emergency medical training & experience mid-flight emergencies scare the cough out of me. When that call goes over the PA for any doctors on board to identify themselves to a crew member I get that dreaded feeling which lasts for about 5 seconds then I'm on the move and explain that I'm not a doctor but used to be about the next best thing.

 

[anat0l]

As someone who has high level emergency medical training & experience mid-flight emergencies scare the cough out of me. When that call goes over the PA for any doctors on board to identify themselves to a crew member I get that dreaded feeling which lasts for about 5 seconds then I'm on the move and explain that I'm not a doctor but used to be about the next best thing.

Looks like when I travel after obtaining my PhD, I should refrain from using my title of Dr and stick to Mr instead.

The worst thing that could happen is that I'm asked to assist in my capacity as a "doctor" and they find that the best that this man can do is First Aid, if even that

 

[RSD]

Looks like when I travel after obtaining my PhD, I should refrain from using my title of Dr and stick to Mr instead.

The worst thing that could happen is that I'm asked to assist in my capacity as a "doctor" and they find that the best that this man can do is First Aid, if even that

LOL - your doctorate is in something like chemical engineering? "It's ok mate - I'm a doctor and I know how to make all sorts of wonderful drugs - I'm just not sure which one you need right now!".

 

[Mal]

The worst thing that could happen is that I'm asked to assist in my capacity as a "doctor" and they find that the best that this man can do is First Aid, if even that

That's why they ask for a "Medically trained Doctor" or a "Medical Doctor" rather than just saying "Doctor".

 

[anat0l]

LOL - your doctorate is in something like chemical engineering? "It's ok mate - I'm a doctor and I know how to make all sorts of wonderful drugs - I'm just not sure which one you need right now!".

Well, I have dabbled with Chemical Engineers (Environmental, Process - we're all brothers and sisters at uni).

We suck at producing drugs though.....unless beer, alcohol, whisky, scotch etc. are considered drugs.

But back on topic, my points stands

 

[anat0l]

That's why they ask for a "Medically trained Doctor" or a "Medical Doctor" rather than just saying "Doctor".

In a pinch or panic, do you think they accurately consider that if they see a "DR" on the manifest?

You might get a big huff or a cold shoulder ("some useless doctor you are!")

 

[Mal]

In a pinch or panic, do you think they accurately consider that if they see a "DR" on the manifest?

Yes they do. Many people have PHD's (or pretend they have one ) so staff are used to seeing Dr's that aren't medical Dr's...

 

[Cyclogenesis]

+1 glad to hear the OP is ok.. and Kudos for Qantas for handling the emergency once it occurred.. But yes, the fact that it did occur is an issue..

I have a friend who has a similar condition and about once a year he has an "issue".. In modern, multi-product processing environments it seems that unless something is explicitly nut free you must assume it is not...

I would hope a the result of the OP following this up with QF will be a change of policy that unless the FA has been instructed or is totally sure (ie packaging info) that a particular item has been processed in an environment free of nuts the answer should be "No Sir, we can not guarantee it"

Thank goodness it was not MEL-LAX or suchlike

Oh and having flown many times as "DR" I have never been called on.. I could however happily go into the flight deck and inform the captain of the physical mechanisms behind the thunderstorms he is witnessing... And I did once used to produce high level weather charts that they use for avoiding Turbulence/TS/Volcanic ash... But that is a little OT

 

[harvyk]

bossreggie, it good to hear your ok.

One thing I am a little curious to know, obviously if you went straight from plane to ambo, you wouldn't have been through immi \ customs \ aqis. How do they process the formalities of re-entering the country (eg does a customs officer meet you when you are conscious again)?

Just curious.

 

[bossreggie]

bossreggie, it good to hear your ok.

One thing I am a little curious to know, obviously if you went straight from plane to ambo, you wouldn't have been through immi \ customs \ aqis. How do they process the formalities of re-entering the country (eg does a customs officer meet you when you are conscious again)?

Just curious.

Interesting Question.

Customs/Immigration Officers were at the ambulance. I was not conscious.... However... I had filled out my arrival card early in the flight. I have been told that my passport was unable to be found, so in effect I have actually entered the country without one. (It has since been found by QF in the armrest pocket of the plane. Due to Immigration Department policy it will be collected by DFAT today in Sydney and returned to the New Zealand High Commission.)

Apparently, according to the Dr who was treating me on the aircraft. Immigration were holding the ambulance up trying to locate the passport. The paramedic became very firm with them and basically told them I was deteriorating and that they were responsible as I needed to get to the hospital urgently.

 

[markis10]

I think the only thing declared was a lack of future interest in Lamb Shanks :shock:. Actually I would expect the formalities are done on your behalf, just like if your a VIP.

 

[anat0l]

Interesting Question.

Customs/Immigration Officers were at the ambulance. I was not conscious.... However... I had filled out my arrival card early in the flight. I have been told that my passport was unable to be found, so in effect I have actually entered the country without one. (It has since been found by QF in the armrest pocket of the plane. Due to Immigration Department policy it will be collected by DFAT today in Sydney and returned to the New Zealand High Commission.)

Apparently, according to the Dr who was treating me on the aircraft. Immigration were holding the ambulance up trying to locate the passport. The paramedic became very firm with them and basically told them I was deteriorating and that they were responsible as I needed to get to the hospital urgently.

When an Australian citizen is potentially going to die, it is sickening to think that a petty task such as handling immigration and finding a passport is more important than the imperative need to try and save a life. That's tantamount to manslaughter. Absolutely sickening thought.

They could have pulled off most of the info they needed by paging ground and quoting any detail on the manifest. If they find you're an Australian citizen then that separates you from a bunch of people in a leaky boat out at sea trying to blag their way into the country.

I'm glad that the immigration officers eventually acquiesced to common sense and let you go.

So how are you supposed to get your passport back? Hope you don't have too many international trips coming up....

 

[Katie]

Looks like when I travel after obtaining my PhD, I should refrain from using my title of Dr and stick to Mr instead.

Based on my uncle's experience of being called on to tend to sick passengers in flight, he is known to QF as a medical doctor. He said something once about realising "that what that asterisk on my boarding pass must mean". So, he is marked in the QFF system as a medical doctor, and I can only guess there's some character on the passenger manifests that identifies him as a doctor, should one be required. He's gotten a couple of nice thank yous from QF for tending to sick passengers in flight. Can't for the life of me remember what, perhaps an upgrade the next time he flew or a bottle of champers ...