Delta to carry Narcan on flights after reported passenger overdose

Delta Air Lines says it will carry Narcan, a drug to reverse opioid overdoses, on its planes starting in the fall after a passenger reportedly suffered a fatal overdose on one of its flights earlier this month.

“I can’t speak to details of the event specifically due to passenger privacy rules,” a spokesperson told Fox News Tuesday. “That said, Delta earlier this year made the decision to improve our on board emergency medical kits by adding Narcan. The process to outfit medical kits will begin this fall.” 

{mosads}A Delta passenger reported on July 13 that a man overdosed on a flight from Boston to Los Angeles.

“A man just #overdosed on my @delta flight, needle in arm he passed out in bathroom. The plane didn’t have a #NarcanKit. The paramedics took 10 minutes to arrive. They just carried him out in a body bag,” passenger Lynne Lyman tweeted.

A man just #overdosed on my @delta flight, needle in arm he passed out in bathroom. The plane didn’t have a #NarcanKit. The paramedics took 10 minutes to arrive. They just carried him out in a body bag @Delta please practice #harmreduction and get a #NarcanKit on every ✈️

— Lynne Lyman (@lynnelyman) July 14, 2019

“The flight attendants were great, they tried everything,” added Lyman, who, according to her LinkedIn profile, is a former California director for the Drug Policy Alliance. “As was the man who broke the bathroom door open and pulled him out, and the doctor that tried to help.” 

BTW, the flight attendants were great, they tried everything. As was the man who broke the bathroom door open and pulled him out, and the doctor that tried to help.

— Lynne Lyman (@lynnelyman) July 15, 2019

The quick administration of Narcan can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, which often slows or stops one’s breathing.

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), took to Twitter to thank Lyman for sharing her story and called on flight attendants to be provided the “proper tools” to help their passengers.

“Appreciate @lynnelyman sharing this tragic experience. Flight Attendants are aviation’s first responders and we need the proper tools to respond and save lives. In the air there are no options,” she tweeted this week. 

Appreciate @lynnelyman sharing this tragic experience. Flight Attendants are aviation’s first responders and we need the proper tools to respond and save lives. In the air there are no options. I’m so sorry for you, Lynne, and the crew and other passengers who had to watch this.

— Sara Nelson (@FlyingWithSara) July 14, 2019

The AFA called on the Federal Aviation Administration in February to require passenger planes to carry Narcan.