Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Company Policy; Manuals; Aircraft
A Flight Attendant called the flight deck during descent 30 minutes prior to landing to inform us about a [passenger] that had fainted on her way to the lavatory. The patient reported to be dizzy and cold; but aware of her surroundings. We tried to get a hold of ArInc; however we had difficulties looking it up; due to our iPads 'freezing'. In addition to this; our ACARS had a time-out link as well. The only one we were able to talk to; was ATC. The event of a sick passenger could not have been avoided; however an easier access to ArInc frequencies; like the blue pages in the QRH or a hard copy in the airplane would have been helpful; as Aircraft X does not have SatCom on board.
During the descent the flight attendants informed us that a passenger had gone unconscious for approximately 5 seconds on the way to the bathroom. I asked the flight attendants to fill out the medical emergency information sheet. I followed the Physician on Call flow guide in the QRH. When the step directed me to contact Dispatch; I was unable to. The ARINC frequencies were removed from our QRH. When I looked in the FOM (Flight Operation Manual) I found the POC (Point of Contact) flow chart; but no link to the ARINC frequency. A word search locked up my mobile 365 and gave no results. The word search for frequency displayed blank white pages that had no information. Our ACARS stopped working. Prior to the incident I was aware that the ARINC frequencies had been removed from our QRH. I was aware that the ARINC frequencies were in the FOM. I was aware that there are direct dispatch VHF frequencies available at certain airports. I was also aware that all the problems I experienced today are known problems with the EFBs. As a result of EFB problems and time constraints of landing the aircraft we were not able to contact dispatch prior to parking the aircraft. The EFB is a known problem to have many 'bugs' which cause the applications to not operate properly or too slowly. Improved testing of the EFB may need to be accomplished prior to the EFB being used operationally.
Air Carrier flight crew reported being unable to contact Dispatch due to EFB malfunction.