Death on American Airlines Flight

[Patriot Heart]

This is inexcusable. Incredible to believe in this day of out of control litigation that full O2 tanks wouldn't be part of a preflight checklist. Get out the checkbook American Airlines.


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 20px" vAlign=top width="99%">Relative Complains After Death on Flight</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>http://img.breitbart.com/images/ap.gif (http://www.breitbart.com/partner.php?source=ap)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- headline end --><!-- date/author start --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="99%">Feb 24 10:15 PM US/Eastern
By RICHARD PYLE
Associated Press Writer</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<!-- date/author end --><!-- article start --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" vAlign=top align=middle></TD><TD>http://www.breitbart.com/images/common/dot.gif</TD><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 14px" vAlign=top width="99%">NEW YORK (AP) - An American Airlines (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=) passenger died after a flight attendant (http://search.breitbart.com/q?s=) told her he couldn't give her any oxygen and then tried to help her with faulty equipment, including an empty oxygen tank, a relative said. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
SNIP
Desir said she was having trouble breathing and asked for oxygen, but a flight attendant twice refused her request, Oliver said Sunday in a telephone interview.

After the flight attendant refused to administer oxygen to Desir, she became distressed, pleading, "Don't let me die," Oliver recalled.
Other passengers aboard Flight 896 became agitated over the situation, he said, and the flight attendant, apparently after phone consultation with the cockpit, tried to administer oxygen from a portable tank and mask, but the tank was empty. Two doctors and two nurses were aboard and tried to administer oxygen from a second tank, which also was empty, Oliver said.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8V136T00&show_article=1

[TeenageRepublican]

What part of "Don't let me die," did they not understand?!

[Eagle1]

This is inexcusable. Incredible to believe in this day of out of control litigation that full O2 tanks wouldn't be part of a preflight checklist.

I am sure its part of the checklist, just wasn't followed

a little pencilwhipping, not as uncommon as one would hope

[Wolfcounsel]

There is no excuse at all, no reason. I hope American Airlines goes bankrupt.

[Incident_command]

I am sure its part of the checklist, just wasn't followed

a little pencilwhipping, not as uncommon as one would hope


Right. Also know how to use your equipment.
While she probably would have died anyway, AMR has fault and will pay out.

[Rhino]

A few things strike me about this.

1. I very highly suspect there is more to this story. There usually is in cases like this.

2. They were technically correct in refusing oxygen. FAA regulations state that they have to reserve their portable tanks for inflight emergencies, not for medicinal purposes. That is so they would be able to assist the passengers in any emergency that required oxygen. Had something like that been required, depleted tanks could have endangered the entire aircraft. Of course, that would be tough when they're empty. Not sure what happened there.

3. If she died of heart disease, the oxygen very likely would not have saved her.

[Wolfcounsel]

"2. They were technically correct in refusing oxygen...." --Rhino

So there is no first aid oxygen aboard any vessel that is flying several miles high, for a sudden individual emergency? This is a serous question, and not a sarcastic one.

[Rhino]

Not to my knowledge, no. I know the FAA doesn't allow medicinal oxygen tanks to be taken on board, and I know that some (presumably all) of their portable tanks are supposed to be reserved for inflight emergencies. Some airlines will provide medicinal oxygen for a fee, if they are given several days notice, but they aren't required to.

[Incident_command]

Rhino reminds me of one other thing. Medical O2 is a drug. Only trained medical techs, EMT, paramedic, nurses, docs are supposed to administer it.

People who are on it at home are an exception.

As for the onboard AED, it either saw a rhythm that did not require a shock, or the battery was dead. That is where AMR may be at fault.

[Eagle1]

airline says tanks were full and everything was done according to rulesfamily will probably get a sizable settlemet anyway

[Rhino]

Airline: Equipment Was Working on Flight When Woman Died; Cousin Blames Faulty Equipment
Monday, February 25, 2008

NEW YORK — American Airlines on Monday insisted it tried to help a passenger who died after complaining she couldn't breathe, and disputed the account of a relative who said that she was denied oxygen and that medical devices failed.

The airline said the oxygen tanks and a defibrillator were working and noted that several medical professionals on the flight, including a doctor, tried to save the passenger, Carine Desir, 44, who had heart disease.

"American Airlines, after investigation, has determined that oxygen was administered on the aircraft, and it was working, and the defibrillator was applied as well," airline spokesman Charley Wilson said Monday....

...There were 12 oxygen tanks on the plane and the crew checked them before the flight took off to make sure they were working, Wilson said. He said at least two were used on Desir.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires commercial flights to carry no fewer than two oxygen dispensers. The main goal of the rule is to have oxygen available in the event of a rapid cabin decompression, but it can also be used for other emergencies. It is up to the airlines to maintain the canisters.

Wilson said Desir's cousin flagged down a flight attendant and said the woman had diabetes and needed oxygen.

"The flight attendant responded, 'OK, but we usually don't need to treat diabetes with oxygen, but let me check anyway and get back to you."'

Wilson said the employee spoke with another flight attendant, and both went to Desir within one to three minutes.

"By that time the situation was worsening, and they immediately began administering oxygen," he said.

Wilson said the defibrillator was used but that the machine indicated Desir's heartbeat was too weak to activate the unit.

An automated external defibrillator delivers an electric shock to try to restore a normal heart rhythm if a a particular type of irregular heart beat is detected. The machines cannot help in all cases....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332388,00.html

I knew there was more to the story. It seems they can use it for medical purposes, but I wonder if that's only for canisters over the required minimum of two. I seem to recall reading that if a pressurized aircraft depleted oxygen below required minimums, it was required to either land to recharge, or fly at lower altitudes that don't require oxygen.

[ColonialMarine0431]

Good follow up Rhino.

[Incident_command]

"Wilson said the defibrillator was used but that the machine indicated Desir's heartbeat was too weak to activate the unit"

No such thing as a heartbeat to weak to activate a AED. AED activate from rhythm not strength.

"An automated external defibrillator delivers an electric shock to try to restore a normal heart rhythm if a a particular type of irregular heart beat is detected. The machines cannot help in all cases...."

Right. He should have left it at that.

[Rhino]

A lot of people don't understand that about AEDs. They think they will shock in the absence of any heartbeat.

[Beowulf]

I am sure its part of the checklist
Yes, Eagle, it is, of the flight attendants. It is also part of the daily check performed by maintenance on it's overnight. I know, I do two daily checks per night on Jet Blue. Part of the check is to verify that O2 cylinders are in place, have good pressure and have a current date. I make sure of these EVERY NIGHT!! My name and license number signs off that plane so you bet your ass I check it!! Same goes for the defibrillator and the medical kits.

As for the onboard AED, it either saw a rhythm that did not require a shock, or the battery was dead.
IC, I check the date and functionality of the AED on board as well. In the corner is a window that had an LED pulse on it. If it's "beating," it's fine. Not to say that it doesn't happen but I have yet to see an AED with a current date that had a dead battery.

A lot of people don't understand that about AEDs. They think they will shock in the absence of any heartbeat.
Rhino is correct. I am signed off on using one. The AED is fully automatic. You set it up, back away and let it do it's job. It will not work if it detects a heartbeat.

[Rhino]

I have an AED. The beeping is really annoying when something passes the expiration date.

[DeclinetoState]

More discussions here (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/02/25/2008-02-25_airline_says_devices_were_working_on_fli.html) (scroll down) if anyone wants to read other opinions about what happened.