AVIATION FIRST AID TRAINING (AVMED)

Medical incidents and emergencies can occur on flights at any time, therefore the South African Civil Aviation Regulations require that cabin crew members are fully qualified to handle any medical emergency that could happen whilst they are on duty.

Flying can worsen a passenger's health; especially the elderly and those who have existing medical conditions. Pregnant women have given birth on flights and perfectly healthy passengers have suffered heart attacks and other fatal incidents while on board. Some of these incidents are caused by stress of air travel, altitude, excessive alcohol intake to name but a few. It is not always possible for an aircraft to divert when a passenger suffers a serious medical emergency, and that is why flight attendants must be able to take control of the situation.

An announcement is usually made requesting the assistance of a medical doctor who may be traveling on the flight, but often no doctor is available. Medical/First Aid Kits are stowed on board which contain stocks of pain killers, eye drops etc. and a sealed Doctor’s Bag is stowed in a safe location for use by medically qualified personnel only.

The following is a list of all medical emergency situations that cabin crew will have to be trained to handle:

* CHILD BIRTH ON BOARD

* EFFECTS OF FLYING ON THE HUMAN BODY

* CARDIOVASCULAR, BREATHING AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM PROBLEMS

* DIABETES, LOW BLOOD SUGAR, SHOCK, DEHYDRATION

* WOUND CARE, BURNS, BROKEN BONES, SPRAINS.

* HEAD, NECK AND SPINAL INJURIES

* CHOKING

* AED TRAINING (AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR)

* DEATH ON BOARD

* CPR (CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION)

STUDENTS WILL LEARN THE IMPORTANT CHAIN OF SURVIVAL

INTRODUCING EPT AVIATION'S AVMED TRAINER:

René van der Bank qualified as a Registered Nurse and Midwife in December 1983, and Occupational Health Practitioner in 2002. She spent her first years of her career in General Nursing, and worked in different private practices and Casualty. In 2002, she joined South African Airways as occupational Healthcare Professional Nurse and Aviation Medicine Instructor. René developed a passion for training in the Aviation medicine field, and qualified as Assessor and Moderator, and registered as Civil Aviation Avmed Designated Examiner.

For the past 15 years she has also been affiliated with the South African Resuscitation Council as a Registered Basic Life Support and First Aid Instructor, which keeps her training up to date with the latest International Standards and Training guidelines.

René registered ECG/Avmed Training Organization in 2008 to fulfil her dream of becoming an Independent Avmed Training provider, and is currently conducting the Avmed training for EPT Aviation Training.

She sees her Training contribution not as only a mere, day to day job, but as a value adding contribution to the skills and personal growth of her trainees.

MRS VAN DER BANK TRAINS INITIAL FLIGHT ATTENDANT AVMED AND RECURRENT