The missing medicine

I recently travelled overseas and experienced the following.

A day before departing from Venice, I was bitten — possibly by an insect — on my arm. The following day, I boarded my flight home.

I always take some “emergency” medication when I travel overseas but did not think to pack any in my hand luggage. During the flight, I experienced a localised allergic reaction — swelling, redness and itchiness.

I asked the cabin crew whether they could assist me with either an oral or topical anti-histamine. They said that they were unable to help me. I then prompted them further by asking them to check their first-aid kit, as I assumed that it would contain an anti-histamine. They responded by saying that they did not have. I am not certain whether this meant they did not have a first-aid kit or that it did not contain any anti-histamines.

They did, however, offer to call out for assistance from a doctor, if there was one on board. I declined as I did not feel that this was necessary.

I was then offered by two cabin-crew members an air-freshener liquid (which contained either lemon or alcohol ) as well as scented hand wipes to see if these would alleviate the itch. Unfortunately, they did not.

This experience has made me wonder: “With what types of medical emergencies are airplanes equipped to assist?”

I would like to believe that if someone goes into anaphylactic shock on board and the only life-saving measure is an adrenaline injection, that they will have one. I am also assuming that they do have medical equipment for major passenger emergencies, such as cardiac arrests, but what about other so-called minor medical conditions that nonetheless cause passenger discomfort? Or do passengers have to ensure that they take more medications in their hand luggage? —