Lesson 1Physiology of cabin altitude and hypobaric hypoxia: effects on oxygen saturation, cardiovascular compromise, and symptom thresholdsDescribes cabin height body effects and low pressure low oxygen, including usual cabin pressures, effects on oxygen levels and heart work, symptom limits in healthy and at-risk passengers, and meanings for treatment.
Typical cabin pressure and equivalent altitudeGas laws relevant to the aircraft cabinEffects on oxygen saturation and dyspneaCardiovascular strain and ischemia riskVulnerable groups and symptom thresholdsImplications for oxygen and diversion decisionsLesson 2Oxygen therapy titration, fluid resuscitation principles in the cabin, and safe use of medications (aspirin, nitrates, bronchodilators, intramuscular adrenaline) with aviation constraintsDetails oxygen adjustment at cabin height, fluid revival with few resources, and safe use of key medicines, mixing no-go cases, doses, ways to give, and flying safety rules for keeping, labeling, and recording.
Oxygen delivery devices and flow settingsTitrating SpO₂ targets in hypobaric hypoxiaFluid resuscitation with limited suppliesSafe aspirin and nitrate use in flightBronchodilators and inhalation techniquesIntramuscular adrenaline: dose and precautionsLesson 3Available onboard equipment and medications: typical first-aid kit, emergency medical kit contents, oxygen delivery systems, AED, and limitationsOutlines standard on-board medical items, including first-aid and emergency kits, oxygen setups, AED uses, and main limits, noting differences between airlines and meanings for doctor choices.
Regulatory minimum first-aid kit contentsEmergency medical kit drugs and devicesPortable and fixed oxygen system typesAED functions, prompts, and safe useEquipment variability between operatorsPlanning care around equipment limitsLesson 4Common in-flight cardiopulmonary emergencies and differential diagnoses for sudden dyspnea and hypotension (ACS, PE, pneumothorax, anaphylaxis, arrhythmia, syncope, hypovolemia)Reviews common flight heart-lung emergencies, stressing pattern spotting and different diagnosis for sudden shortness of breath and low blood pressure, separating ACS, PE, pneumothorax, anaphylaxis, heart rhythms, fainting, and low blood volume.
Recognizing life-threatening dyspnea patternsDifferentiating ACS from pulmonary embolismIdentifying tension pneumothorax in the cabinAnaphylaxis versus isolated bronchospasmArrhythmias, syncope, and hypotensionHypovolemia and occult blood loss in flightLesson 5Criteria and process for diversion decisions: clinical thresholds, flight phase, time to suitable diversion airport, passenger stability, and operational/legal considerationsExplains doctor and work rules for changing course, including unsteadiness limits, response to care, flight stage, suitable airport time, legal duties, and shared choices with captain and ground help.
Clinical red flags mandating diversionTime-critical versus time-tolerant conditionsAssessing time to a suitable diversion airportCommunicating risk to the flight crewLegal and liability aspects of diversionDocumenting the diversion decision processLesson 6Immediate management algorithms for suspected acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary embolism, anaphylaxis, and cardiogenic or hypovolemic shock in flightProvides step-by-step plans for handling suspected ACS, PE, anaphylaxis, and shock during flight, changing standard emergency steps to few tests, cabin low oxygen, and limits on medicines, fluids, and watching.
Suspected ACS: assessment and first-line careManaging suspected pulmonary embolism aloftRapid recognition and treatment of anaphylaxisCardiogenic versus hypovolemic shock stepsUse of oxygen, positioning, and fluidsWhen algorithms trigger diversion or CPRLesson 7Documentation steps during and after the event: in-flight records, handover information for ground emergency services, incident reporting to airline operations and aviation medical authoritiesCovers exact recording during and after events, including organized flight notes, times and treatments, short handover to ground teams, and required reports to airline work and flying medical groups.
Essential elements of in-flight medical notesTime stamping assessments and treatmentsPreparing handover for EMS at landingCommunicating with cockpit and operationsIncident and safety reporting requirementsConfidentiality and data protection issuesLesson 8Systematic in-flight assessment using remote medical consultation: focused history, vital sign targets, use and interpretation of portable pulse oximetry, and monitoringExplores organized flight checks using far medical help, stressing aimed history, symptom times, vital sign goals, pulse oxygen limits, and ongoing watching changed to cabin height and item limits.
Primary survey in the aircraft cabinFocused history and symptom timelineTarget vital signs at cabin altitudeUse and limits of portable pulse oximetersWhen and how to call ground medical controlContinuous monitoring and reassessment
