When the airline industry makes a change, it can be something that rocks the travel world. Cases in point: when TSA PreCheck first came on the scene, the introduction of Basic Economy began, and, more recently, the grounding of 737 MAX 9 planes.
But sometimes changes are made and although it may be important to a few people, you can almost hear the collective “ho hum” from the rest of the aviation fans. A price increase for a glass of wine. A small airline that will no longer service a small airport in a state with a small population. An ultra low cost airline that decreased the maximum weight of checked luggage.
Such is the case of a small change Southwest Airlines recently quietly introduced: they are adding Narcan to their onboard emergency travel kits.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in an emergency situation. It’s been available over the counter since early 2023, and can quickly restore normal breathing to a person during an opioid overdose.
Fortunately, John Gaal had a dose of Narcan on him when he was on a Southwest flight back in October, 2022. Unfortunately, he had the medication with him because his son had died of an overdose in 2016. So he’s carried Narcan with him ever since. As it turned out, a person on his Southwest flight collapsed. Gaal and other passengers carried the man to the back of the plane. Gaal recognized the man was showing the symptoms of an opioid overdose. He gave him Narcan and the man regained consciousness.
Gaal wrote to Bob Jordan, the CEO of Southwest. He also wrote to his congresspeople. The story of his experience on the plane was in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Word got around: Southwest Airlines should carry Narcan in its EMKs. And slowly…slowly…the wheels moved.
Southwest recently announced they will be carrying Narcan in its plane’s EMKs.
“With customer safety and comfort at front of mind, Southwest is enhancing its onboard emergency medical kits above and beyond current FAA requirements. The new kits, which are being installed throughout our fleet over the course of 2024, feature an auto-injector dosage of epinephrine, as well as doses of naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray and ondansetron (Zofran) tablets,” the airline was quoted as saying.
They don’t mention Gaal, but that’s OK. If these meds will save even one life, it’s all good.
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