The Federal Aviation Administration and researchers from Duke University analyzed the events of 77,000 in-flight medical emergencies to update the policy governing first aid kits on jetliners. Meanwhile, the vast majority of the medical aid rendered while the aircraft were flying was for cuts and bruises, which can be handled with simple supplies. To resolve the operational disruptions but ensure the availability of care, the FAA is proposing to replace the 64-item checklist with a general requirement that each plane provide the necessary items to cover nine specific medical emergencies. The list includes cardiac emergencies, breathing difficulties, opioid overdoses, severe allergic reactions, major bleeding, seizures, hypoglycemia, gastrointestinal emergencies, and childbirth. Insulating The Air Network From Market ForcesCredit: ShutterstockThe shift from a rigid medical checklist to performance targets reflects a massive industry-wide push to eliminate bottlenecks to improve carrier resilience to supply chain fluctuations.