English
MEDAIRE APP ASSISTS CREW WITH CONTAGIOUS DISEASE RESPONSE HELPING TO RESTORE PASSENGER CONFIDENCE
First-of-its-kind app helps airline crew respond to medical events during flight.
MedAire – the world‘s leading provider of in-flight medical advice and assistance to commercial airlines – today announced the launch of its medical event assessment app. The app helps expedite time to care for passengers experiencing medical issues during flight, allowing crew to easily capture important diagnostic information and transmit it to MedAire’s medical advisory service, MedLink, for expert advice and assistance.
“Flight crew are the first responders during in-flight medical events. Their role is critical in ensuring timely, appropriate care to a passenger,” said Dr Paulo Alves, Global Medical Director at MedAire. “This can be challenging given cabin communication limitations and the stress of being a first responder – even more so if the passenger has critical symptoms such as chest pain or a shortness of breath, or if they suspect the passenger may have an infectious disease.”
Airlines around the world participated in the BETA testing of the MedAire app prior to its launch. Icelandair, responsible for transporting more than 4.5 million passengers in 2019, was the first airline to officially go live with the new app as part of its standard safety protocols.
The app was developed to help crew accurately gather necessary information - such as chief medical complaint, vital signs, symptoms, and medical history from the ill passenger. The information can then be seamlessly shared with the ground-based medical team at MedAire’s MedLink centre.
In addition, the app provides detailed guidance for the crew-member on next steps for the most common – and serious – types of events that occur during flight. Guidance may include obtaining the onboard medical kit, providing oxygen, or donning personal precaution equipment (PPE).
“The ability to communicate quickly and accurately with medical professionals can help both crew and passengers feel reassured that airlines are taking all precautions to mitigate safety and medical risks, including those associated with COVID-19,” continued Dr Alves. “The new functionality and app is part of MedAire’s standard in-flight MedLink service – relied on by airlines around the world – and demonstrates our continued commitment to provide solutions to support crew and passenger safety and confidence.”
The new app complements the holistic approach to medical risk mitigation services offered by MedAire to help to support passenger confidence when flying. These include Covid-19/ Contagious Disease Health Screening for passengers and crew; medical advice and assistance for in flight medical issues; and cabin crew medical training.
MedAire assists the majority of the world’s airlines and has managed hundreds of thousands of in-flight medical events over the last 30+ years. This extensive knowledge of the types and frequency of medical events that occur onboard informed the medical scenarios and recommendations included in the app.
Airlines incorporating the app with their MedAire MedLink service receive:
- Intuitive, guided patient assessment instructions for crew to expedite care based on type of medical event.
- Enhanced passenger and crew confidence in the ability for the carrier to respond to inflight medical events.
- Improved communications. The app provides the ability to communicate directly from the cabin via handheld device to MedAire’s MedLink doctors.
“Icelandair’s priority is passenger and crew safety. The collaboration with MedAire has been excellent and we are honoured to be the first airline worldwide to be using the MedAire app. It is very exciting to get the opportunity to integrate the app which will help our crew members manage medical emergencies in flight more efficiently,” said
Jóna Björg Jónsdóttir, Health Manager Cabin Operations at Icelandair. “Icelandair continues to be a leading airline when it comes to combining safety and technology.”
Jónsdóttir continued, “Our crews have been impressed by the simplicity of using the app. Above all, they felt extremely confident knowing that support and professional guidance on how to handle medical emergencies was just a tap away. It also simplifies the paperwork and information gathering so the crews can focus on the passenger’s wellbeing and handle medically-concerning situations more quickly.”
The new app is available as part of MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service for in-flight medical events. MedAire is assisting current clients with the implementation of the app based on each airline’s unique procedures, training and technologies.
Learn more at http://www.medaire.com/airlines.
Notes to Editors
About the International SOS Group of Companies
The International SOS Group of Companies is in the business of saving lives, protecting your global workforce from health and security threats. Wherever you are, we deliver customised health, security risk management and wellbeing solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. In the event of extreme weather, an epidemic or a security incident, we provide an immediate response providing peace of mind. Our innovative technology and medical and security expertise focus on prevention, offering real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground quality delivery. We help protect your people, your organisation's reputation, as well as support your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, organisations can fulfil their Duty of Care responsibilities, while empowering business resilience, continuity and sustainability.
Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group, headquartered in London & Singapore, is trusted by 12,000 organisations, including the majority of the Fortune 500, as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions and NGOs. 12,000 multicultural medical, security and logistics experts stand with you to provide support & assistance from over 1,000 locations in 90 countries, 24/7, 365 days.
To protect your workforce, we are at your fingertips: www.internationalsos.com
About MedAire
MedAire, an International SOS company, has been a partner to the aviation industry since 1985. MedAire provides fully integrated travel health and security solutions to over 150 of the world’s leading airlines and more than 4,000 private aircraft including 75% of fortune 100 companies. Integrated solutions include real-time advice and assistance, training, equipment, and professional services for crew and passengers both in and beyond the cabin. MedAire’s MedLink and Global Response Centre, handle thousands of calls a year to help crew and passengers manage medical and travel safety events in the air and on the ground with 24/7 access to emergency care doctors, nurses and aviation security specialists.
For more information visit www.medaire.com
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