The issue of first aid training has been raised after a passenger on RyanAir suffered a heart attack mid-flight but was wrongly assumed by cabin crew to be experiencing low blood pressure.

Per-Erik Jonsson was on a flight from London to Stockholm when he fell ill, and his daughter, a nurse, attempted to revive him. She claimed: “He didn’t respond when I tried to shake him. But after I slapped him in the chest, he began breathing again.”

She maintains that staff “only reacted when I shouted for a doctor and that he needed oxygen” and after he recovered he was offered a sandwich and a drink, which had to be paid for.

EU Regulations state that all cabin crew should be trained in first aid.
Isobel Kearl, Training Development Officer at St John Ambulance said:

“Companies have a legal duty of care to staff and we strongly advise that companies take in to consideration and plan for the first aid needs of customers.  Making sure the recommended number of staff are trained in first aid means they are able to take the appropriate action in an emergency, for the sake of colleagues and the public.

“If there aren’t enough trained first aiders or their skills are out of date then companies might be putting their employees and customers at risk – and the consequences can be severe. No one should suffer because they needed first aid and didn’t get it.” Ryanair defended its staff:

“In line with procedures for such cases a Ryanair cabin crew suggested a diversion to the nearest airport or to have an ambulance on stand-by on arrival at Skavsta, so that the passenger could receive medical treatment.”

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