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A different perspective
In issue 5 you quoted the AHU as saying
that Cabin Crew “… are trained to look after
neck breathers in a decompression, and if
they need oxygen in a medical emergency,
they would adapt the mask and tube fitted
to the oxygen bottle as appropriate.” This is
hugely misleading to all laryngectomees
who are thinking of travelling by air and I
would urge you to print a correction in your
next issue.
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Countrywide Supplies
32 Meadow Road
Netherfield
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NG4 2FR
28 THE VOICE | Autumn 2011
Both myself and my wife flew as cabin crew
with British Airways for nearly 25 years
until recently retiring. We can assure you
that there is absolutely no medical training
given about laryngectomees, and we didn’t
even know what a laryngectomy was until
a year ago when a friend of ours underwent
the operation. (This despite the fact that
every year we were refreshed and tested in
the latest trends of aviation medicine.)
We would strongly suggest that any
laryngectomees who are considering
flying should make themselves and their
condition known as soon as possible to
the senior cabin crew member and explain
what would need to be done in the event
of a decompression.
This of course is relevant should a
laryngectomee need mouth to neck
resuscitation, as this is an issue that also
fails to be addressed.