Rescue at 35,000 Feet

When you board a flight from New York to Israel, you expect to spend the next several hours trying to get some sleep, perhaps watching a movie, and counting down the hours until you land. You certainly do not expect to find yourself treating a medical emergency thousands of feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

But as a United Hatzalah volunteer medic, I have learned that emergencies do not follow schedules, and the responsibility to help someone in need does not end when I leave Israel.

About five hours before our scheduled landing, a member of the flight crew approached me. An elderly woman on board was experiencing difficulty breathing and needed medical assistance.

Whenever I fly, I make a point of letting the flight attendants know that I am a trained medic. I always tell them that if something happens, they should not hesitate to wake me, no matter the hour. I have been called upon to assist passengers on previous flights, and I know how quickly an ordinary journey can turn into a medical emergency.

This time was no different.

I immediately went to examine the woman, using the medical equipment I routinely carry with me. Her oxygen saturation was dangerously low, she was struggling to breathe, and her blood pressure was significantly elevated. It was clear that she needed immediate attention.

At 35,000 feet, you do not have the luxury of calling an ambulance or rushing someone to the nearest hospital. You have to work with the resources available, rely on your training, and remain calm.

Together with the flight crew, we began administering oxygen from the aircraft’s emergency supply. We established continuous communication with a medical team on the ground, providing updates on her condition and coordinating her care.

For the next five hours, I remained by her side.

I monitored her vital signs, checked her oxygen levels, and made sure she continued receiving the assistance she needed.

Thankfully, her condition allowed us to continue to our scheduled destination. When we landed, the waiting medical team was ready to take over and provide further treatment.

Only then could I finally relax.

You never know when the next call will come, or who you might need to help. One thing’s for certain. I will be there whenever and wherever someone needs me. Even at 35,000 feet.