Full time medics stationed at Charlotte Douglas Airport www.privateofficer.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. Sept 30 2011
Medics respond to about 1,000 emergency calls a year at Charlotte Douglas Airport. This has raised awareness to the call and response times of the medics, and suggestions of making the emergency response more effective have arisen.
Approximately 600 out of 1,000 airport medical calls end with a trip to the hospital. Paramedics say that faster response times could save lives.
Passengers at the airport have indicated that they are somewhat anxious when boarding flights. They have expressed that medics being available during an emergency within seconds rather than minutes would make a big difference.
Phillip and Elizabeth Walthall, a couple who met while Phillip was a captain and Elizabeth was a flight attendant, have their share of stories to tell when it comes to emergencies at airports and on flights.
“Strokes, heart attacks, diabetic situations, and seizures”, are a few emergencies Elizabeth has witnessed as a flight attendant. She also explained that the health problems were mainly brought onto the aircraft and not caused by aviation.
“The anxiety of being on a plane can cause heart problems and she suffers from that so I worry about that,” explained Denise Tigani. She worries about flying with her elderly mother, who is in a wheelchair.
The Charlotte City Council is making sure that help will be available at Charlotte Douglas Airport if someone falls ill. They will be spending $500,000 annually to station medics inside the airport terminal every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The passengers that use Charlotte Douglas are very happy at the attention safety is getting at the airport.
“I think it’s a fabulous idea and it shows the compassion of the people in Charlotte,” said Elizabeth.
Charlotte Douglas police will keep their EMT certifications and will remain at the scene but will serve now on as backup.
