In a series of joint letters to various airlines, U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Brian Trone (D-MD) have requested that opioid overdose medication be stocked on flights for the holiday travel season.
The letters follow a request to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to make such provisions mandatory, in the wake of a fatal overdose this summer. In that case, a passenger fatally overdosed aboard a Delta Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles. Flight attendants responded but were unable to save him.
“The intent of this request is to save lives,” Langevin said. “Travel this holiday season is expected to hit historic highs, and the safety of airline passengers should be our top priority. A person’s chance of survival should not depend on the airline they choose. I strongly urge air carriers that are not carrying naloxone to do so as soon as possible.”
Treatments such as naloxone are capable of reversing the effects of an overdose from drugs like heroin or morphine. The congressmen noted that, over the last 20 years, opioid overdose has led to the deaths of more than 400,000 Americans.
“Naloxone is a critical, life-saving drug. Flight crews should be equipped to handle any medical emergency,” Fitzpatrick said. “Carrying naloxone is an easy way for airlines to ensure the safety of their passengers. I’m glad to see that several airlines have begun carrying naloxone on commercial flights, and I hope to see others soon follow.”
Airlines that have begun voluntarily carrying such countermeasures include American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. However, the three representatives were focused on those that have not. Specifically, they wrote to Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Allegiant Air.
In response to the letter, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson acknowledged the need to update onboard medical emergency kits and said the FAA would pursue regulatory options to encourage the inclusion of such medication.
The Association of Flight Attendants has backed their efforts.
“We urge all airlines to carry naloxone onboard as soon as possible,” Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said. “Responding to opioid overdoses with life-saving medication like naloxone is essential and should be included in Emergency Medical Kits on board. AFA has been raising this as a critical issue to the FAA. Passenger medical emergencies have and will continue to include opioid overdoses. Aviation’s First Responders need to have the tools to save lives.”