Passengers who fall seriously ill during flights will have a better chance of receiving the treatment they need after new state-of-the-art equipment was introduced.

The technology, known as Tempus IC, can monitor in detail the condition of passengers who fall ill and is to be installed on all Etihad Airways long-haul planes.

It can be used to gather information about a passenger's health quickly, and vital signs and photo imagery can be sent to experts on the ground for further medical assistance.

The machine will be able to take blood pressure and electrocardiograms which cabin crew can use to confirm with medics what treatment to give and whether to divert the plane or not.

Cabin crew on all airlines are already well trained in first aid and how to deal with emergencies but this new technology will add another layer of expertise to the in-flight team.

Captain Richard Hill, Etihad Airways’ chief operations officer, said: “Passenger welfare and safety is of the utmost importance to Etihad Airways and the introduction of the Tempus IC system will ensure that when medical emergencies do occur they are evaluated quickly.
 
“This helps ensure that the passenger can receive the appropriate treatment when the aircraft lands, whether this is as a diversion or at its final destination.”

Source: dailymail.co.uk