Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Attendant Current
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft
I was Flight Attendant B. We were boarding pax. Large number of elderly pax on board; several wheelchair pax. Group of 16 pax traveling together; boarded thru aft door. I had conversation with one of pax in group; complimented him on his hat and asked where they had been traveling from. Pax at the time seemed well; able to speak; and appeared to be in good physical condition; nothing noticeable regarding health except he was an older man. I was assisting another pax on board that was brought to the aircraft in a wheelchair; needed help getting settled and help putting a coat on. As I was assisting her; I heard pax calling for help; pax needing medical attention. When I reached pax; it was the gentleman I had been speaking with 5 minutes earlier about his hat. Pax was seated; appeared to be asleep with head down; he was drooling from nose and mouth. His wife was seated next to him; holding kleenex to his nose and mouth. I shook him gently to see if he would respond and asked his wife his age and if he had been ill or had a medical condition; she was very upset and stated no. At that time; left pax and called FA-A and asked to have Paramedics called. I then grabbed Therapeutic Oxygen and headed back to pax. We were still boarding at this time; having a hard time getting around pax boarding and stowing their items. When I reached pax with oxygen; a pax identified himself as an EMT and offered his assistance which I gladly accepted. I administered oxygen to pax while EMT monitored his vitals; he felt his pulse; [which] was non-existent or very weak; he asked if we had AED close or on board; I stated it was up front and I would go grab it. Met FA-A on way to grab AED and asked him to go get it and I returned to help with pax and wife who was having a difficult time with the situation. FA returned with AED; at that time we decided to move pax to floor; FA-A and EMT were able to move him while I tried to comfort pax wife. FA-A and EMT prepped pax for CPR; EMT got AED in order for use. FA-A started CPR; at this point we could not find mouth barrier; in the craziness of the situation I could not find it within the AED or the pouch; they had the razor out; so pouch was near; I could not get to first aid kit in back of AC due to pax on floor and EMT and FA-A working on him. I tried to get to the front; pax still boarding; rushed thru to get to first aid kit in forward galley; as I approached front galley; FO let me know Paramedics had just pulled up and were heading up the back stairs. I left and headed to the back of AC. Paramedics were moving pax to back galley. At this time I stayed with his wife and tried to let her know what was going on to the best of my abilities; basically stating; that they were trying to stabilize him before they placed him in the ambulance. It seemed like they [were] in back galley for a long period of time before moving him to ambulance; which was not a good sign to me.
I was boarding customers when I received a PA from FA B; indicating there was a medical emergency. I hung up the PA and immediately informed the pilots there was a customer having trouble breathing. The pilots proceeded to contact paramedics. When I turned around; ground agents had boarded a wheelchair mid aisle not allowing me to get to the aft of the aircraft. When the aisle cleared I saw FA B; she advised me to get the AED. After grabbing the defibrillator I started for the back of the aircraft. As I approached the PAX he was sitting up with a therapeutic mask on. He was unresponsive. I grabbed his legs; moved the armrest up and advised a medically trained PAX to grab his upper body to lower him to the ground. Once the PAX was on the ground; I advised [passengers in row across from ill passenger] to get as far to the window as possible. This allowed me space to get on my knees in-between the seats at the unconscious PAX's chest. I began compressions immediately and advised my assistance to prepare the AED. I got through 30 compressions; at which point I was unable to obtain a mouth guard to give breaths. I then lifted the pax shirt and applied pads to his bare chest and side. After giving about 20 more compressions we were ready to shock. I advised all customers to CLEAR multiple times; and applied a shock. There was no response. I continued giving compressions until paramedics arrived.
Commuter airline flight attendants reported they could not find a mouth guard in the AED kit which complicated their efforts to assist an ill passenger.