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Post by dgriffin on Mar 1, 2008 7:39:35 GMT -5
February 25, 2008 Woman Dies During Flight to JFK, Family Blames Airline gothamist.com/2008/02/25/woman_dies_duri.phpOn Friday, a woman traveling from Haiti to New York City died on the American Airlines flight. Her cousin say the crew initially refused to give her oxygen and that when they did, the oxygen tanks were empty and the defibrillator wasn't working. Carine Desir, who lives in Brooklyn and is a nurse, "collapsed an hour into the flight." She was traveling with her brother Joel Desir and cousin Antonio Oliver, who tried to get the plane's crew to help her. At first, Desir was very thirsty, but then had trouble breathing. Oliver says the flight attendant initially refused his cousin's request for oxygen, prompting Desir to say, "Don't let me die." The AP reports other passengers "became agitated over the situation" so the flight attendant did give Desir oxygen, but found the tank empty. When doctors and nurses who were on the flight did tried to give her oxygen, they found the a second tank empty. The pilot agreed to divert the plane to Miami (45 minutes away), but Desir died and her body was moved into the first class section. Desir did have heart disease, and the NYC Medical Examiner's office determine she died of natural causes. Her brother said, "Maybe she could have been saved." And her husband told the News, "How can a big plane like that not have the proper equipment? It's unacceptable. She didn't get any help." ### One can only imagine what else was not functioning on the plane.
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Post by frankcor on Mar 1, 2008 7:52:44 GMT -5
The report above seems to have been written based on interviews with the woman's family. This AP report draws from information from the airline as well: wcbstv.com/topstories/ny.flight.death.2.661808.htmlAmerican Airlines insists there was oxygen in the tanks (can a tank force someone who has stopped breathing to start breathing again?) and that the defibrillator was working. The doctor who assisted her said that the device detected a heartbeat and thus, did not administer a shock. I'd wager the family has found a lawyer who is going after deep pockets.
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Post by Swimmy on Mar 1, 2008 9:43:09 GMT -5
No, oxygen tanks don't make someone who has stopped breathing start breathing again. It just dumps oxygen over their mouth and nose to increase the amount the person inhales. You need a squeezy thingy. Yes, that's swimmy's term of art for this: Hook that up to the oxygen and you're good to go. As for the incident, I tend to agree with AA that there was oxygen in those tanks. The FAA has strict regulations regarding commercial flight. If there was the slightest foul play, the NTSB and FAA would be all over it before the plane landed.
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 1, 2008 11:50:43 GMT -5
New York times carried similar coverage, but again, quotes are from Mr. Oliver and Mr. Desir. Also, see: www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editnbairlinedeathsbmar02,0,3610708.story Only an FAA review can resolve questions over woman's death in flight South Florida Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board March 2, 2008 ISSUE: American Airlines' equipment, response in question after woman dies in flight. Here's what is not in dispute about the events aboard American Airlines Flight 896: A 44-year-old diabetic nurse took ill after eating an in-flight meal aboard a packed plane, soon began struggling for breath, and despite medical professionals' attempts to use two oxygen tanks and a defibrillator, she died in front of alarmed passengers, her body placed on the floor and covered with a blanket for the remainder of the five-hour trip. What makes this disturbing series of events even more so are allegations that flight attendants twice refused Carine Desir's requests for oxygen and that, when they finally conceded, both oxygen tanks they tried to use were empty." Article goes on to say that the physician on board did in fact say the defib was working. AA disputes O2 cans were empty. So, yes, Frank, the jury is still out. However, I'll jump to the conclusion that the airline screwed up, because: 1. Al Sharpton will stand with me, and 2. Ever since that flight to LA when the stew wouldn't give me another drink and then later wouldn't let me use the bathroom as we were landing, I've disliked airline personnel.
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Post by Swimmy on Mar 1, 2008 12:27:39 GMT -5
1. Al Sharpton will stand with me . . . That's not saying much in the way of supporting an argument. I know it's jesse jackson, but al is just as guilty.
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 1, 2008 13:29:23 GMT -5
Yup, who needs a reasoned argument when he's got hatred. OK, I've still got No. 2 left and any air traveler will go with that one!
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Post by Swimmy on Mar 1, 2008 13:32:16 GMT -5
Hehehehe, yes. I have to agree. I remember I had my CD player running. The captain just started to announce that we were landing and the stewardess ripped my headphones off my head and shouted at me that we were landing. Being the young punk hot head that I am, I leaned in heavily on her. And the other stewardess came to see what the commotion was over. As I left the plane, the captain made a specific apology to me.
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 1, 2008 14:11:43 GMT -5
Well, I do not fly anymore, so I'm not an expert. But I would have been afraid the captain would have had you manacled and dragged off the plane in the name of Homeland Security!
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Post by Swimmy on Mar 1, 2008 14:19:27 GMT -5
It was pre-9/11
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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 1, 2008 18:16:04 GMT -5
, don't really know all the facts yet to comment on this incident but I have flown and still do often and have had very little trouble, (except the long waits on the runway to be able to take off), with the staff on any airline. I do have chronic sinus and allergy problems which does and did cause me severe medical problems while in flight many times. Each time the staff was very quick to respond to my plight and help me through it in all ways they could and each incident was on different airlines. So, I can only go by my experiences and give praise to the staff who are more then willing to assist you. Hey Dave, were you DWF at the time and trying to relief yourself because of it Hey, don't forget the stewardess as part of her job is as a bartender and I applaud her for cutting you off . Just proper procedures when landing and taking off on all airlines to remain in your seat and especially if you're DWF. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 1, 2008 19:00:12 GMT -5
Bobbiez: In my dark past, I'm afraid I did sometimes stray beyond the bounds of good manners while drinking and flying (neither of which I do any more.)
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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 1, 2008 19:13:57 GMT -5
Dave, we're all guilty of that in one thing or another . I'm the one who has to state once in awhile, "been there, done it" ;D. I guess what's really important is that we do "live and learn."
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Post by Clipper on Mar 1, 2008 21:35:33 GMT -5
Gee, I remember once when in the Navy, there was an overbooking situation. I was able to get an $50 dollar voucher that was for food or beverages in the airport restaurants or lounges, it I would wait for 2 hours for the next flight. I did that, and they also overbooked that flight, and again I volunteered to take a later flight and another $50 voucher. Well, in the 60's, $100 would buy a lot of cocktails in the airport lounge, and by the time the third flight was ready to board, I was so drunk, I was sleeping in a chair in the boarding area and didn't hear the call to board, and woke up two hours after the flight left. I stayed in Chicago until the next day to sober up enough to fly, and was still 30 or 40 bucks ahead, LOL. they told me I was too drunk to fly, and I told them I wasn't flying the SOB, I was just going along for the ride. They still made me sober up before they would put me on a flight. Oh well, I haven't had any similar problems since I quit in 1976, haha.
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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 1, 2008 23:04:53 GMT -5
Clipper, you're too funny!
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Post by Disgusted-Daily on Mar 5, 2008 13:31:48 GMT -5
I couldn't drink enough alcohol to get on a plane.
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