THIS is apropos of the letter '' (March 22). It is unfortunate to see people dying during flight without any medical aid.

I remember a similar incident in the middle of the flight on PIA night coach from Islamabad to Karachi the airhostess made frantic calls if there was any doctor on board.

I rushed and found a pulseless unconscious woman with a blue face and no respiration. Since her pupils were feebly responding to light, I understood she was not dead but in a severe cardiac shock. When despite cardio-pulmonary resuscitation with mouth to mouth breathing/oxygen mask she did not revive, I asked for any medical emergency kit available on flight, but was told that there was none except an oxygen cylinder.

While landing I found her weak pulse coming back. On landing, a young doctor and an ambulance was waiting on the tarmac, though without any emergency kit. However, we shifted her to the Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases, and she was saved by the Grace of God.

In another incident, the principal of a medical college, while returning home after Haj, went into cardiac shock during flight and died without any medical aid.

As a result of advancement made in medical science, the longevity of age is increasing, with more and more senior citizens travelling, and more and more emergencies like acute heart, epileptic, acute asthma, etc., attacks occurring.

In such a scenario the cabin crew should be fully trained to handle such emergencies and medical kits should be available on all flights.

DR M. YASIN KHAN DURRANI
Islamabad