Ryanair criticised over lack of CPR training

Ryanair has defended its handling of medical emergencies on its planes after two passengers on one flight suffered apparent cardiac emergencies and staff were without defibrillators or CPR training.

Two nurses and a dentist who happened to be on board the flight to Spain assisted the woman and man who became ill within an hour of each other, but were startled to find staff had no equipment or training to help them.

Ryanair said yesterday all cabin crew received basic CPR training “as part of their initial and recurrent safety training” but one of the nurses, Patricia O’Flaherty, said staff told her otherwise. She was angry at how the incidents were handled as she was seriously concerned for the male passenger, aged 40.

“I was very frightened for him. I feared we might lose him. At one stage we were unable to get a carotid pulse but we managed to keep the patient talking and he was able to describe how he felt.”

The drama unfolded 20 minutes after take-off on flight FR9152 from Knock to Alicante last Friday when a middle-aged woman fell ill and staff asked if any passenger could provide medical assistance.

Ms O’Flaherty, a nurse at Galway’s Bon Secours Hospital, another nurse and a dentist all left their seats to help and an oxygen mask was fitted to the woman. Ms O’Flaherty managed to get a medical history from the woman, who revealed she had a heart attack last year and was asthmatic and diabetic, but had her medicines in the luggage hold.

Her pulse was weak and very irregular and Ms O’Flaherty said: “We got the air hostesses to provide us with oxygen. We asked had they a defibrillator on board. They hadn’t.

“We asked for the first aid kit and opened it. All we found in there was a few boxes of plasters and a mask to put over the patient’s face if we had to give mouth to mouth, but it had no connection.”

Within an hour the man took ill and was also fitted with an oxygen mask.

“I asked the hostesses were they trained in CPR. They said no. I asked the air hostess if we weren’t there to sit with both patients what would they do. They would have diverted and landed immediately at the nearest airport.”

Both patients were met by paramedics in Alicante and the man was rushed to hospital but the woman felt better and declined further medical assistance.

Aircraft are not by law required to have defibrillators and Ryanair does not carry them but Ms O’Flaherty said: “In our towns and cities there are defibrillators everywhere. They are very easy to use and the normal person is taught basic CPR and how to use it. I think it is a disgrace.”

Ryanair said its cabin crew had followed policy in requesting medically trained passengers to assist and being prepared to divert to the nearest airport. “Ryanair wishes to sincerely thank the passengers in this case for their help and assistance to their fellow passengers,” it said.