In air medical emergency…

It was a routine weekend return flight to Delhi. I was as usual struggling with the network to download the movie I wanted to see during the flight. (I don’t know I always remember downloading at the last moment, however, organized I might be). The flight was almost about to start taxing on the runway when I heard the pilot saying that there is a medical emergency in the flight and we need to return to the bay.

I saw a spectrum of human reactions to that announcement. Some were curious, some oblivious, some perturbed as they had a connecting flight and don’t know why but some were amused at the situation.

The hostess called out for medic support and I stood up with a sense of urgency. I had to walk the aisle from row 3 to the back of the plane. With all eyes on me, it was not at all easy to cross that stretch. For some reason, I couldn’t look into the eyes of those expecting people. But I was sure I will do the best !!!

So there was this 37-year-old male, average built, seemingly in pain. I courteously inquired about him. He was a native of Bengal and was heading for a job in Dubai. He had pain on the right side just below the rib cage. After a detailed examination, I couldn’t reach any conclusion and the whole situation didn’t seem life-threatening. He was quite stable As this was a long flight so my obvious advice was to deplane him so that he can be investigated further, but the starting scene of the “three idiots “ movie flashed across my mind !! (you know the actor who faked an emergency to meet Rancho… Deplaning was a tedious task. Although I made the passenger walk through the aisle and ramp (without any visible discomfort) but the security drill was painstaking. Checking all cabinet luggage and finding that man’s luggage in check-in was no easy task Anxieties were growing by the minute, the hostess had a tough time pacifying people who would lose connecting flights… I wish this gentleman would have had this pain before onboarding the plane. He didn’t even know what was the impact of his right subcostal pain Well I might be sounding judgemental but I have been almost 100 % correct in diagnosing such cases But the whole incidence did make a hero out of me, I was the life saviour. Awe and respect. Hostess thanking me profusely. An emergency was everted.

Deep inside I was not sure, what value did I add ….. !!!