Bhubaneswar: In a remarkable display of quick thinking and medical expertise, Dr Ashok Kumar Badamali, senior consultant in Cardiac Anesthesia at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Bhubaneswar, saved the life of a fellow passenger aboard Air India Express flight I5 764 enroute from New Delhi to Pune.
The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of the morning, began when the cabin crew, led by Mr. Saurav, made an urgent announcement requesting the assistance of any onboard paramedics or nursing personnel due to a medical emergency.
A middle-aged woman was found unresponsive in her seat, prompting immediate action. Dr Badamali, who was traveling to Pune for research activities, promptly responded to the call for help. The patient was moved to the floor of the aircraft to facilitate resuscitation efforts. Upon examination, Dr. Badamali found the patient to be unresponsive, and exhibiting agonal breathing, with an extremely fast carotid pulse. Utilizing his expertise in cardiac emergencies, he performed a carotid massage that proved to be life-saving.
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Under Dr Badamali's careful management, the patient was placed in the recovery position and remained stable until the flight successfully landed at Pune International Airport. This act of quick thinking and medical intervention highlights the critical importance of having medical professionals readily available and able to respond in flight emergencies.
Reflecting on the incident, Dr Badamali noted a few constraints in the current emergency response protocols aboard flights. He said that he will draft and send a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the Aviation Ministry to enhance the management of such medical emergencies in the future, aiming to improve the safety and well-being of passengers.
The pilot of the flight, Mr. Rahul, along with crew members Mr. Saurav and Miss Puja, expressed their profound gratitude to Dr Badamali for his timely and decisive action. They assured him that an incident report would be submitted to the concerned authorities to document the event and the effective response.
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