EMB ERJ 190/195 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Human Factors; Weather
While cruising at 10;000 feet we experienced some moderate turbulence. A few minutes prior there was a report from a preceding aircraft that there was moderate turbulence between 4 and 7 thousand feet. We had slowed down to 270 as per the Operation Manual in anticipation of turbulence at the lower altitude. We also were approaching some clouds that were just around our flight altitude and I called the Flight Attendant (FA) to tell them to expect turbulence as we were about to start a decent. As soon as we got into the clouds we hit the moderate turbulence. It continued all the way through 3 thousand feet. Subsequently we received a call from the A Flight Attendant saying that someone was injured in the rear of the aircraft; she wasn't sure if it was the B Flight Attendant or the none FA. We were still being knocked around at that point and the First Officer (FO) and I discussed it quickly and told the A Flight Attendant to stay seated until we got lower and out of the turbulence. We leveled off and reported the moderate turbulence to ATC. We called her and told her that this was as smooth as it was going to get and to check in the back. She called back very shortly to say the B Flight Attendant was injured; and as she said it 'he's in pretty bad shape'. I wasn't sure if that meant he was unconscious or bleeding; I should have asked for more specific info. I elected to inform ATC of the medical emergency because I wanted to get the B Flight Attendant assistance as quickly as possible. We were within 20 miles of our destination and I figured that was the safest thing to do. I wasn't sure that we were through all the turbulence anyhow. We got vectors to a short final; the FO contacted the ops and told them the situation; and we were able to land within 10 minutes without further incident. The A Flight Attendant had the passengers remain seated while the EMTs arrived and attended to the B Flight Attendant. I was waiting at the flight deck door when he walked up with the EMT and walked with him up the jetway. There had been a non-rev FA in the back who helped him. Apparently when I called him regarding the lower turbulence; he started putting away his cart in the back and when we hit the turbulence the cart came out and hit his shoulder. Thankfully he wasn't seriously injured; and thankfully no one else was either.
EMB-190 Captain reports an injury to a Flight Attendant when moderate turbulence is encounter at 10;000 feet. The Flight Attendants had been warned by the Captain but the B Flight Attendant had been unable to secure his cart before the turbulence was encountered and it caused his injuries.