Monday, May 12, 2008

Something Wrong With This Picture?

Found in the JS's 'watch' column:

Kagen, an Appleton Democrat, was onboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Washington to Minneapolis, the first leg of his trip to Wisconsin, when a woman fainted on the plane.
....
But Kagen, who has been a doctor for about three decades, responded quickly.


"He took her blood pressure, told her to lie down and kept her calm," Rubin said


Unless the airlines are carrying BP sleeves (??!??), one wonders how Dr. K. "took the blood pressure."

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Five seconds of google:

An airplane's medical kit must be accessible to the flight crew, but is for use only by medical professionals. It must include:
•blood pressure cuff
•stethoscope
•plastic airways to deliver oxygen to help with breathing
•nitroglycerin tablets for chest pain
•dextrose solution for hypoglycemia
•epinephrine for asthma or allergic reactions
•injectable diphenhydramine HCl for serious allergic reactions
•hypodermic needles
•protective latex gloves.

Unknown said...

So you're going to continue to leave the impression that there is something wrong with Dr. Kagen or his tales of airborne heroism, even now that you know the cuff would be on the plan as required by federal law?

Anonymous said...

I know this is nit-picking, but if she fainted, wasn't she already lying down?

Dad29 said...

Umnnhhh...Jay...

I think you answered the question.

Works for me!

Unknown said...

A minimum systolic value can be roughly estimated without any equipment by palpation, most often used in emergency situations. Palpation of a radial pulse indicates a minimum blood pressure of 80 mmHg, a femoral pulse indicates at least 70 mmHg, and a carotid a minimum of 60 mmHg.