Doctor Saved 3 Yr Old Boy in Flight

[Thaiyotakamli]

Two-year old boy diverts international plane!

A plane with 315 passengers on board had to do an emergency landing on its way from Amsterdam to Singapore on 3 Jan 2016.(GMT) because of a 2.5 yr old boy.

My wife and I were on board KLM Flight KL835 which departed from Amsterdam to Singapore at about 10 pm on 3 Jan 2016 (GMT).

We just took off at 8.50 pm (GMT) and we were barely 1.5 hr into our 12 hr flight back home when the drama unfolded.

I was taking something from my bag in the overhead luggage compartment to prepare for some much needed sleep when I heard a faint voice asking if there was a doctor around.

A few seats behind us, I saw an anxious mother carrying an unconscious little boy, about two and a half years old.

This was like déjà vu. Am I dreaming? Mental pictures of the dramatic resuscitation of the little boy who almost drowned in Temasek Club on 8 November 2015 flashed in my mind. Mouth to mouth resuscitation? Not again!

I quickly went over and told her I am a doctor.

The little boy appeared limp in his mother's arms. Quickly, I took the child and laid him on his side on an open space next to the emergency exit.

"What happened to him?" I asked as I bent down to hear and feel if there was any breathing.

"I don't know. Suddenly, he is not responding," she answered weakly. She looked terribly worried.

I checked his vital signs and they were still strong. Thank God, the boy was just unconscious. No need for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Phew!

The efficient KLM crew brought the Resus Kit and we quickly administered oxygen on him. He felt warm to the touch and a reading revealed he had a high temperature of 38.6 degree Celsius.

I knew I had to cool him down quickly but his thick layers of clothes weren't cooperating.

" Do you mind if I cut away his shirt?" I asked.

"Yes, yes, please do whatever it takes, " his mother pleaded.

But what was I thinking? I realized there may not be any scissors on board. I tried again and finally managed to take off his thick clothing.

The crew brought the ice cubes I requested. I proceeded to give him a tepid sponge to bring down his fever. His temperature came down after 30 min of sponging and he started to cry. A good sign.

.

The child probably became unconscious after throwing a febrile fit during the flight.

I found a pulse oximeter in the Resus kit. It worked on my finger but it was too big for the little child.

By this time, an elderly male Caucasian doctor (looking very smart in his suit) and a young Asian doctor arrived on the scene to offer assistance.

The lady doctor said she is an ICU specialist. The elderly male doctor said he an Internist. I struggled to hear him with all the commotion going on.

The lady doctor asked if I was a doctor and about my area of expertise. I told her I am a family doctor, a general practitioner in Singapore.

"Oh, then you are the best person to handle this kind of case"' she told all the anxious onlookers.

Both of them discussed the boy's condition between themselves while I continued to sponge the boy with cold wet wipes placed all over his chest, neck and forehead.

The two doctors concurred that given the long flight ahead, it was best to evacuate the boy at the nearest airport.

By now, the boy's temperature had subsided. He started fussing, irritated by the cold wet wipes.

"Okay, mummy, you can have your son back ... but please continue to sponge him." I told his mother who looked visibly relieved at this time.

The captain explained the situation and told everyone he needed to make an unscheduled landing at Bucharest airport because of the boy's condition.

The plane took another 30-40 minutes to dump fuel and we finally made an emergency landing at Bucharest airport in Romania for the boy to be evacuated to the hospital.

It took another 4 hours for the plane to refuel while the 315 passengers waited patiently despite the obvious inconvenience caused. Most were hungry, tired and worn but no one made a disapproving sound.

 

65,000 liters of fuel dumped for emergency landing. Four hours of waiting by 315 passengers. Many passengers must have missed their connecting flights. That is how much it costs if someone falls sick at the most untimely moment in the air.

But what is more important than the safety and wellbeing of the little boy?

The Captain kept everyone updated regularly and thankedeveryone for their patience and understanding. I must compliment him and his crew for their professionalism and KLM for putting the safety and well being of the passengers as their priority.

My wife and I chased the northern light from Iceland to Tromso in Norway. What can be more exciting than catching of the elusive "green lady"? But life loves to surprise us. This 12-hour direct flight became a 17-hour medical adventure in the sky. An adventure that may have given the green lady a run for her money.

We were all tired when we landed in Singapore at 7.45pm (GMT +8) but KLM crew and the captain deserved a thumb up. I wrote a few lines of feedback to show my appreciation to the passengers , the captain and especially the male crew member William during the prolonged flight.

Well done KLM. Thank you to the rest of the passengers. And let's pray for the boy's speedy recovery.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/saving-lives-on-land-and-in-the-air

https://www.facebook.com/DrLowLeeYong/posts/909127299122651

http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/boy-3-almost-drowns-doc-saves-him-turning-him-upside-down

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/3-year-old-boy-nearly-drowns-in-pool-but-was-revived-after-doctors-perform#xtor=CS1-10

https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes/posts/10153205478852115

 

 

This doctor saved a drowning boy last year and now he saved this boy in flight. Great doctor indeed

Edited January 10, 2016 by Thaiyotakamli

[Pinobii]

heart warming read on a sunday morning 

 

really admire the life saving profession

[Thaiyotakamli]

heart warming read on a sunday morning

 

really admire the life saving profession

Yes and he has a gold heart that willing to help anyone who in need

[Wt_know]

good character of the 2 other doctors (so called specialist)

to recognize that the family doctor is the best person to handle the case and not throwing in ideas and opinions

Edited January 10, 2016 by Wt_know

[Lala81]

Err OK to say this was life saving is extremely exaggerated. Good Samaritan definitely. But let's not exaggerated. I thought the child choked or something when I saw the title

Edited January 10, 2016 by Lala81

[Thaiyotakamli]

Err OK to say this was life saving is extremely exaggerated. Good Samaritan definitely. But let's not exaggerated. I thought the child choked or something when I saw the title

I think other than doctors, the airline also did very well

[Maroon5]

Err OK to say this was life saving is extremely exaggerated. Good Samaritan definitely. But let's not exaggerated. I thought the child choked or something when I saw the title

Is there a need for your further cold water? The Good Samaritan has alr sponged the boy down.

[BanCoe]

Run out of praises to give you

[The_Bear]

Kids shouldn't be allowed on flights. Especially the brawling and screaming ones. Can we put them in the cargo hold?

[Icedbs]

I was just wondering where did they dump the 65,000 liters of fuel.....?

 

Still, kudos to the airline because they sacrifice profitability for the sake of the kid for this flight.

[Lala81]

Is there a need for your further cold water? The Good Samaritan has alr sponged the boy down.

He responded appropriately to a situation which was unlikely to be life threatening at that immediate moment.

 

Over the top lionisation or demonization is too typical of social media.

Air dump. At that altitude it just becomes an aerosol. Won't really affect the ground that much

[Hamburger]

Wall of words.

 

To cut the story short, doctor sponged the kid. 

 

End of story.

[Ender]

I think the whole flight should be quarantined for having a passenger with high fever.

Btw good job doc.

[Thaiyotakamli]

I was just wondering where did they dump the 65,000 liters of fuel.....?

 

Still, kudos to the airline because they sacrifice profitability for the sake of the kid for this flight.

Throw in the air?

Kids shouldn't be allowed on flights. Especially the brawling and screaming ones. Can we put them in the cargo hold?

Ok Mod

[Icedbs]

Throw in the air?

 

 

Yes, I know...they can only dispose it into the air.

 

The question is where. If they fly to the black sea (nearest to Bucharest) and do an air dump into the sea, then the marine life there will be affected.

 

if they do air dump over some forest, then the forest  animals and plants there will be harmed.

 

I hope they did the air-dump over a plain field somewhere.

[Thaiyotakamli]

Yes, I know...they can only dispose it into the air.

 

The question is where. If they fly to the black sea (nearest to Bucharest) and do an air dump into the sea, then the marine life there will be affected.

 

if they do air dump over some forest, then the forest animals and plants there will be harmed.

 

I hope they did the air-dump over a plain field somewhere.

I am not expert

 

 

But i think maybe the fuel will vanish in air because aircraft fuel is very light and with lesser gravity up there, i think it will not fall to land.

[Hamburger]

I believe the fuel will vaporize before reaching the ground.

 

If diesel, then another story liao. 

[Kangadrool]

probably can claim back from aviation insurance.

 

I was just wondering where did they dump the 65,000 liters of fuel.....?

 

Still, kudos to the airline because they sacrifice profitability for the sake of the kid for this flight.