Relative complains after death on flight (Empty Oygen Bottle)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Feb. 24, 2008, 9:16PM | RICHARD PYLE

[Doctor Don]

That lady should not have been on that airplane!

[Shelayne]

Could be.

But I do recall having a conversation about pre-flights with one of my roommates in my commuter apartment, and she indicated that there was not a heavy emphasis on pre-flight safety checks with her airline. She didn’t even know anyone that took “that stuff” seriously. The big concern for them was catering items. They didn’t even conduct briefings prior to flight, and that totally surprised me.

Of course this was prior to 9/11, and I imagine that things really stepped up industry-wide after that.

[TankerKC]

A "box," possibly a defibrillator, also was applied but didn't function effectively, he said.

That's a fine bit of journalistic research.

Full disclosure: I friggin' HATE American Airlines. ;)

[grey_whiskers]

*PING* to the Harvard Law Student.

in case you are inclined to chase ambulances...

[txlurker]

Thanks for the info Reeses. You learn something new every day.

[Hildy]

Once upon a time flight attendants were RNs..but that was in the 40s and 50s. Maybe we need to go back to that standard.

I doubt RN's would work at slightly above minimum wage, which is what most flight attendants make.

[billorites]

Medical oxygen and aviators oxygen are both 100% O2.

They are not the same thing though and are not interchangeable.

The only significant difference is that aviators O2 is certified to be dry and to have no water vapor in it. Medical oxygen can and does.

You don't want aviators oxygen fittings and stuff freezing up in the cold at high altitudes.

[linn37]

At the end of the flight it was 0.

[Young Scholar]

Hah, already here. I’d rather kill myself than become an ambulance chaser, but depending on the facts (and law—of which I know nothing because my commie torts professor taught us only his wacky theories rather than tort law) her family may well deserve something if the airline was negligent.

[richardtavor]

No, I am saying that I don’t know the facts. If they are deemed negligent, however,then they should compensate.

[FoxInSocks]

A "box," possibly a defibrillator, also was applied but didn't function effectively, he said.

I'd be willing to bet that the defibrillator, if that's what it was, functioned exactly as it was supposed to. An AED only advises the operator to administer a shock in a limited number of scenarios.

[donna]

Desir, who had heart disease

Why was she flying?

[Eaker]

We called it five-nines dry.

[singfreedom]

Yes, Sir. Don’t they usually require a Doctor’s certificate for those with serious health problems? I thought a Doctor had to even certify that a person, who normally uses oxygen, could endure an entire flight WITHOUT the use of their personal oxygen supply.

I still think it has something to do with using oxygen on an operating plane-—something to do with safety, possibly explosions. Dang, I need to find that report I read ages ago!

[Shelayne]

There are O2 tanks in the cockpit for the pilots, but there are other tanks located in various parts of the aircraft for the passengers, if needed. The number depends on how large the aircraft is, and how many passenger seats there are. Usually they are found in the forward, mid, and aft cabins. I always checked “mine” (we were each assigned an area and a door near our jumpseat) to make certain it was filled and operable—along with the other safety equipment for which I was responsible, and then I checked the others because I didn’t know if the rest of the crew was as conscientious. Of course I didn’t make it obvious—don’t want to step on toes or that could make for a very loooong flight.

As I recall, an inoperable 02 tank was a NO-GO item, meaning the plane was grounded until replaced.

[ReignOfError]

Just what is wrong with these bimbos known as flight attendants? This person asked for oxygen, they did not ask the flight attendant to sell her soul to the devil!!! Would it have killed the flight attendant to get the damn oxygen?

No, but it might have killed the patient. Flight attendants aren't qualified to diagnose the need for O2; two doctors and two nurses on board determined the course of care.

[toldyou]

“What’s your take on this?(bringing in the pros...)”

Hey, sweetie...

Not sure if I’m a pro, but geez...if we didn’t check if the O2 tanks were full on our pre-flight checks at United Airlines...we didn’t have a conscience. It was just something that you HAD to do! No exceptions!

I can’t think of one time in my many years that a F/A didn’t check if the tanks onboard were full.

But, being an RN, I’m not sure if O2 would have saved her. I did “save” a few passengers and tended to several ill ones inflight, but not sure if it was because of giving oxygen.

[GOPPachyderm]

Or..... she was returning from Haiti. Hmmm.

44 is very young to die of natural causes without some kind of preexisting conditions.

[Riley]

I have heart disease. I work out five days a week. Saying that she has ‘heart disease’, in and of itself, doesn’t tell us much.
In my case, my body tells me if there’s going to be a problem. I get plenty of warning. Not everybody does. I’d know to stay close to home if I wasn’t feeling too hot. With some people, it isn’t like that.

[peggybac]

“Hey, they did upgrade her to First Class..”

OMG, water...nose...keyboard. Too funny.