BMA calls for action to safeguard the health of air passengers

The British Medical Association is calling for national and international action to safeguard the health of air passengers, in a new report published on Monday (31st May). Despite numbering two billion a year, air travellers are not protected by regulated standards of healthcare or medical advice.

The Impact of Flying on Passenger Health: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, from the BMA's Board of Science and Education, reveals that there are no international obligations on airlines to provide medical care – though most do but to highly varying degrees. In Europe cabin crew must be trained in first aid, but there are few requirements on training standards. In the United States Federal Aviation Administration regulations specifically exclude any requirements for airlines to provide medical care. The standard of medical equipment varies considerably, with few fixed rules on the content of medical kits. Airlines are also under no obligation to carry automated external defibrillators (AEDs) – basic machinery for resuscitating heart attack victims.

The BMA's report – the most up to date of its kind – looks at a range of health questions surrounding flying. Airline regulation to date has focussed on maximising aircraft safety, but guidance for doctors and air passengers alike has often been inadequate or contradictory. The new report highlights specific issues for air travellers, such as cabin pressure and jetlag, and brings together important advice for health workers on minimising potential problems. It also considers the evidence for conditions linked to flying, such as Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and identifies where research is lacking.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, Head of Science and Ethics at the BMA, called on the UK Government and the international community to tackle the numerous issues raised in the report:

"Despite the huge popularity of air travel, health issues for air passengers have been largely overlooked. While some valuable work has been done, this report shows that much more research is needed on key issues such as DVT if health professionals and the public alike are to understand and counter the medical risks posed by flying.

"The BMA welcomes recent Government moves to monitor research into these issues. If air passengers' health is to be properly protected however, much better regulation on in-flight medical equipment, and quality of staff training on delivering emergency care, is essential."