Who should coordinate with ground medical support during an inflight medical emergency?

• A. The designated lead crew member (purser or senior cabin crew)
• B. The captain
• C. Any cabin crew member
• D. The flight engineer

Answer: (A)

During an inflight medical emergency, there should be a single, clear point of contact for ground medical support. The designated lead cabin crew member—typically the purser or the most senior cabin crew—takes on this coordination role. They gather and relay essential patient information to ground medical professionals, receive instructions from them, and direct the cabin crew to carry out necessary actions (such as obtaining medical records if available, locating equipment, and managing the patient’s care). This focused liaison helps prevent mixed messages and delays, ensuring the medical advice from ground is implemented quickly and consistently. The captain remains in overall command of the flight and can participate in decisions, but the lead cabin crew member is the primary medical liaison. The flight engineer would not ordinarily handle medical coordination.