Basic Medical Equipment on Commercial Airlines

To the Editor: Recently, while on board a commercial airliner, I was called to evaluate a passenger who was ill. It was immediately apparent that this unfortunate gentleman might be suffering from a myocardial infarction. By reflex, I asked for the usual tools, such as a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer. I was informed, however, that these items and virtually anything else that might be useful were not available. The first-aid kit contained the usual things one might expect — such as a tourniquet — none of which could conceivably be of value in treating a patient with this diagnosis. Later, after….