Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
WHEN a sudden crisis arose on a long distance flight, a quick-witted and big-hearted nurse leapt into action implementing her first aid skills to save a passenger’s life.
Nurse Sheila Guimbal from Ibn Al Nafees Hospital, who has been working in Bahrain for 15 years, was returning to the kingdom after spending a holiday back home in the Philippines.
During the nine-and-a-half hour Etihad Airways flight from Manila to Abu Dhabi, a man in his mid-forties, collapsed suffering from severe abdominal pain and a stewardesses rushed to offer aid. As the crew paged the emergency, an announcement was made requesting urgent medical assistance and asking whether a doctor or nurse was on board.
Sheila, a mother-of-one, quickly answered the call. The 45-year-old, who has been practicing medicine for the past 24 years, said: “I immediately presented myself. I was confident of my abilities and simply wanted to care for him. This is what I do.
“Ever since I was a young girl I had wanted to become a nurse. I love caring for people and helping those that need medical assistance.
“The passenger was lying on the floor covered with a blanket, looking pale, shivering and had cold, clammy skin. He was complaining of abdominal pain and feeling nauseated.
“I began to assess his condition and took his medical history. He was non-diabetic, did not have hypertension and didn’t have any other medical history.”
Sheila checked his vital signs, blood pressure and conducted a palpatory which is the process of using one’s hands to examine the body, especially while perceiving or diagnosing a disease or illness.
“His pulse was weak and blood sugar was lower than normal,” she explained. “I elevated his legs using a folded blanket, covered him with a warm blanket and asked some of the crew to open the food conveyers to add more heat to the area he was in to help keep him warm.
“I offered him a cup of juice and continued monitoring his vital signs through an EAD (emergency automated device).”
Sheila monitored him for almost two hours until his vital signs stabilised and the Filipino man said he felt better. She added: “I sat him up and reassured him that he was back to normal. After a few minutes he needed to go to the bathroom and I assisted him and brought him back to his seat where I advised him that if he felt ill again to immediately inform the crew.
“In the end, I am just thankful that we all landed safely in Abu Dhabi.”
Etihad Airways’ guest response coordinator Viorica Robertina Radu sent Sheila an email thanking her for her efforts on behalf of the airline.
“I would like to express our gratitude for the assistance you provided to one of our guests who required medical attention on your flight to Abu Dhabi,” she said. “The medical aid you gave may have helped to avoid what could have turned into a more serious situation for the guest, and we gratefully acknowledge your help.”
Sheila also received a letter of appreciation from her employers who were proud of her actions.
