All the Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft which operate long-haul routes, now have one of these state-of-the-art machines on board…
SriLankan Airlines has added yet another dimension to its superior customer service by becoming the first airline in South Asia to carry ‘Heart Start Machines’ on all its long-haul flights for medical emergencies.
SriLankan’s Head of Service Delivery Captain Milinda Ratnayake said: “This is a simple piece of equipment that can save lives in the unlikely event of a passenger suffering a cardiac arrest on board a flight. Every one of our Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft which operate long-haul routes, now has one of these state-of-the-art machines on board, and our cabin crew are trained in using them.”
The machines, known formally as Automated External Defibrillators (AED), monitor and evaluate heart rate and rhythm when attached to a patient. Through voice commands the machine recommends immediate actions such as CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation), and if a patient’s condition is serious, it can also discharge an electric shock to stimulate the heart.
SriLankan’s Company Medical Officer, Dr. Anoma Jayasinghe, said: “All our cabin crew have traditionally been trained in CPR and other lifesaving techniques. The AED’s provide an added dimension to passenger care, and is very easy to use.”
The mobile AED’s is a small unit and when the AED is attached to a patient through two pads on the chest, it analyses heart rate and rhythm , and through voice commands provide information to the cabin crew on the patient’s condition.
Even after a patient is resuscitated, this machine could be used to continuously monitor his or her condition until the aircraft lands, and the patient handed over to a medical team.
Passengers travelling on SriLankan Airlines who notify of any medical issue, are examined by the airline’s medical team prior to boarding. Any necessary assistance is provided including wheelchairs, assistance at airports, special meals, and oxygen bottles on board. Every flight also carries on board an extensive range of basic medical equipment and medicines.
Sri Lanka’s award-winning carrier now has a network of 38 destinations in 25 countries in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Far East.
