Congrats on doing your damn job.
I wasn't doing my job, in fact I wasn't working. I paid $500 to sit in a plane ticket like the rest of the people on that plane. I waited for others, possibly more qualified to volunteer, and when no one did, I got up. Know what I got for squatting in the back of the plane and doing all this stuff? Not much, but I'd do it again. I didn't get in EMS for the money, I did it because I care. I still do care about every one of my patients, and I cared about that man on the airplane.
As for the original post here....The plane PT...You should have given 4 baby asprin as soon as you asessed the PT. That's protocol in any system, for any active cardiac PT for any basic. I know it's easier to look back on things and see things different, but the asprin and O2 should be second nature. You shouldn't even have to think about it once you verify that the PT hasn't had any recently, and has no allergies to it.
Where I work, and where I was trained, ASA is not in the BLS protocol. In fact if you read other posts on the forum, you'll find many Basics from many states can't and don't give ASA. Others only give 2, some 3. I didn't give ASA because it wasn't one of the tools in my toolbox. The ICU nurse that had the drug box didn't give ASA, so we didn't give it. Oops, you assumed wrong on that one, but I'll forgive you.
I'm glad you weren't like half the EMS people I work with, that hide from anything if they're "off duty". Congrats on that.
I did what I felt was right. When the plane landed, instead of walking back to my seat and drawing attention, I saw down in the back row, put the AED and O2 tank on my lap, and covered them with my hands. As patients rushed back to use the bathroom, I didn't say a word, I just sat there and waited until the flight attendant came back. I gave the O2 back to her when the row cleared. When the airplane mechanic was refilling the drug box (go figure), he was having trouble identifying what went where. I quietly offered my assistance, and I dont think anyone noticed. I didn't give any high-fives, yell "Another life saved" or do my saved-life dance. That's not what I'm about.
Most importantly, I shared my experience with this community because I feel as though they have a similar interest in EMS. That's what this forum is all about, the common bond of EMS. I have a life too, in fact EMS is a tiny part of my life, but I still get excited every time I go into work.
Maybe you can stick around the forum and check out what we're all about, we're a great community.