On Friday 19th July 2024 at about 9:40 am aboard the flight above, a Migrant worker, Female in her 30’s seated on 16B, returning from Saudi Arabia fell sick and collapsed (Syncope).
As the crew started giving first aid, Dr Stephen Ataro Ayella, a passenger returning from 1st Post Covid-19 International Conference in Toronto, who traveled on complimentary ticket from Ethiopian Airlines came in to help immediately. The full flight had limited space in the aisle so she was evacuated to a more spaces corridor between economy and business classes.
She was sweating profusely, with intense headache and quite agitated.
Or Ayella established that the lady was having difficulty in breathing, gasping, sweating profusely and with very rapid pulse. Blood pressure taken three times at 10 minutes intervals revealed ranges of 160-165/110-120 mmhg, with pulse of 92-100 beats per minute.
First aid was given, including use of antacids and warm lemonade water which helped belch and get relief in addition to the emergency management processes, propping up, fanning and reassurance.
After 45 minutes, she was stable and walked back her seat.
The cabin crews were quite fast and supportive to the Doctor especially the ones serving the allocated seats.
The patient had no knowledge of having had Hypertension but admitted to having stressful work place prior to return.
Dr Ayella recommends that passenger screening should be advised especially vitals signs for those that may have high risk, elderly, on prosthesis and perhaps wheeled to board. Given that the flight was full, should such emergencies arise, it could be overwhelming and cause a stampede.
Notably many passengers are affected by cabin pressure variations and should be educated on techniques to help counter the pressure effect, which was demonstrated to the patient and helped get safe landing.
In part of information given, for long flights passengers should be encouraged to stretch on board and not sit through out the journey as well as keeping hydrated as the information magazine provides. Medical incident report and Emergency first aid to a passenger on board Ethiopian Airline
The story of how God does his wonders in saving human life.
Livelihood Development Initiative International organised the first International Post Covid conference in Toronto Canada 11th to 13th July. As a Global stakeholder event, Lamot Patrick Louis, IGAD Cross Border Focal Point Person at Elegu (Uganda)- Nimule (South Sudan) border Health coordinated IGAD team to be part of the big event. Later on, as requested, IGAD was to help nominate Partners who made significant contribution to fight the COVID 19 Pandemic, and Ethiopian Airline was one of such a noble Partner, because of their role in supplying medical equipments on time and at fair rate to the IGAD Region, which aided the containment of the infections.
Because of their generosity and corporate mindset, Ethiopian Airlines offered 5 free Complementary tickets through IGAD to benefit the key Speakers at the Post Covid conference Thanknyou for that.
As the conference day drew closer, Dr. Ayella Stephen was identified on last minute to benefit from the ticket and was able to actively and ably participate in the conference. So, on his return date, God decided to use him to save life of a passenger on board as per the incidence report below. The question is, what if he was not on board without the basic tool for checking blood pressure and decided to keep mute with his skills? His timely action, is appreciated and averted any negative effect of the incident on the Airline (assuming the patient died while on transit). Thank you, the Management of Ethiopian Airline, for giving Complementary ticket, and having a life saved at the time we all least expected.
