If you were to fall ill while in-flight, you’d be pretty lucky to have any doctor on board – but how about the leading doctor in the entire nation?
Well, Jerome Edwards, or “the nation’s doctor” was unexpectedly called into action yesterday when he was getting ready to take off on a Delta flight at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
According to the surgeon general’s office, a fellow passenger had suddenly lost consciousness and the crew asked for immediate assistance from any medical personnel present in the cabin. As was his duty, Adams responded and the patient eventually regained consciousness.
“On my @Delta flight to Jackson, Mississippi (by way of Atlanta), and they asked if there was a Doctor on board to help with a medical emergency- why yes- yes there was,” the Surgeon General tweeted. “Patient doing well and like a good #USPHS officer, I was glad to be able to assist!”
On my @Delta flight to Jackson, Mississippi (by way of Atlanta), and they asked if there was a Doctor on board to help with a medical emergency- why yes- yes there was. Patient doing well and like a good #USPHS officer, I was glad to be able to assist! pic.twitter.com/N9HdY3py6G
— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) May 16, 2018
After administering treatment, Edwards made the call to get the plane back to the gate so the passenger could be transferred to hospital.
Delta Airlines replied to the Surgeon General’s tweet, posting: “Hello, Wow! We certainly thank you for volunteering as well as your service. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.”
“Prior to takeoff, Delta flight 1827 from Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta returned to the gate following a customer illness. Medical assistance was provided by the U.S. Surgeon General who worked with our flight crew to aid the customer,” the company said in a statement, as reported by CNN. “Delta thanks the Surgeon General for volunteering his services in assisting this customer.”
“OMG, to have the lead doctor in the nation assist with an on board emergency–about as lucky as you can get, if you have to get sick on a plane. Kudos!” one user responded on Twitter. “I hope you’re in first class for life after this!” another replied to the doctor.
The Surgeon General posted a lengthier message to Facebook today, explaining the situation in full.
“Yesterday I had the good fortune to be part of a TEAM that responded to a medical emergency on a @Delta flight. The patient did well, and I’m overwhelmed at how much attention my tweet about it got!” he wrote. “The truth is, there are doctors, nurses, and techs who step up each and every day to respond to emergencies on flights, and they ALL should be recognized and thanked.”
“My tweet wasn’t about me- it was a way of acknowledging and encouraging ALL of the individuals who step up when duty calls. It was also to give a high five 
✋ to those two amazing nurses who responded- a PICU nurse from Cincinnati Children’s and another former ER nurse. With those 2+ me – an anesthesiologist from a level one trauma center- we had a dream TEAM to respond to a medical emergency.
Finally, I need to knowledge the amazing Delta crew who are all very helpful, including the Captain, 
👨✈️ who was as cool as a cucumber! 
🥒 But most of all, I was just really proud to point out that when there’s trouble, the United States Public Health Service Corps can always be counted on to respond.”