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United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby addresses pilot mental health concerns amid surge in air travel
Following recent scares involving pilots, and as a record number of travelers take to the skies, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told “CBS Mornings” that the company works to make sure pilots’ mental health is “in a good place.”
Kirby said United pilots undergo training every nine months, including simulator sessions designed to prepare them for scenarios that he said will hopefully never happen. The training, combined with the airline’s policies, aim to ensure pilots are mentally and physically fit to handle the stresses of flying.
“We have all kinds of policies in place where people can, whether it’s a mental health or substance abuse, anything that’s going on in their lives, illness, even fatigue, that they can call off and not come to work without penalties, without repercussions, and they have really good protections to ensure that that doesn’t happen,” said Kirby.
Last month, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot was accused of trying to shut down a plane’s engines midflight while catching a ride in the cockpit from Washington state to San Francisco. There have also been a number of pilots speaking out about not seeking mental health treatment for fear of losing their jobs.
In response, the Federal Aviation Administration recently announced it is creating a new committee that will examine pilot mental health and some challenges pilots face in reporting mental health issues to the agency.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration recorded its busiest day ever over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, with nearly 3 million passengers flying on Sunday. United Airlines reported welcoming over 4-and-a-half million travelers during the holiday week, a 9% increase from last year.
Earlier this month, a U.S. Senate panel announced it would be investigating the rise in seat and baggage fees for five major airlines, including United.
Kirby said that the airline has worked hard to reduce fees and has gotten rid of change fees. While baggage fees in the airline industry are up nearly $2 billion in the last four years, Kirby said United has earned more from baggage fees because of an increase in volume, not an increase in its fees.
“There are some other airlines that have, you know, have added a lot of fees, some of which I think are egregious,” he said.
CBS News
Helene disrupts yellow jacket, bee nests in North Carolina, prompting massive Benadryl, EpiPen requests
Deadly flooding from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina has disrupted the underground nests of yellow jackets, bees and other insects, causing them to swarm and sting people struggling to recover from the storm.
It has caused such a surge in requests for medication to protect people allergic to stings that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is buying Benadryl and epinephrine injections to help fill requests through hospitals, emergency medical personnel and doctors.
Pharmacists in the state can also provide emergency refills for people who are already prescribed allergy medications, according to a state health department spokesperson. The state is planning to allow people to buy epinephrine injections such as EpiPens without a prescription, and it is working to collect and distribute donations of medicines.
While most people are not allergic to stings from bees and other insects, irritation and pain can be intense and stings can swell and remain painful for days, according to the Mayo Clinic. And some people can have a severe allergic reaction that can lead to anaphylaxis that can cause difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue and throat, weak pulse and loss of consciousness. In these situations, it’s critical to administer epinephrine immediately.
Being stung more than a dozen times can also cause a buildup of venom in the body that can cause serious sickness that can include dizziness, fever, convulsions or vomiting.
To reduce the risk of getting stung, experts recommend wearing long and light-colored clothing that has a smooth finish, avoiding perfumes and smelly soaps and deodorants.
If there’s only one stinging insect around, they recommend staying calm and still, and to avoid swatting at it. But if several are stinging, they say it’s better to try to quickly get indoors or into a shaded area. Bees release a chemical when they sting that attracts other bees.
Several hospitals across the U.S. are grappling with shortages of IV fluid after flooding from Hurricane Helene forced medical fluid manufacturers to halt production.
Baxter International, the leading supplier of IV fluids to hospitals, said its facility in Marion, North Carolina, remains closed for the foreseeable future.
“Baxter’s North Cove facility affected by flooding and currently closed for production as the company assesses extent of the impact,” the company says in a statement on its website.
The company, which supplies about 60% of the country’s IV fluid bags, added that it’s working with federal agencies to support recovery efforts and “mitigate supply disruption to patients.”
IV fluids are administered intravenously to treat dehydration and are critical for surgery, during which patients are asleep for a long time and unable to eat and drink.
“Remediation efforts are already underway, and we will spare no resource — human or financial — to resume production and help ensure patients and providers have the products they need,” José (Joe) E. Almeida, chair, president and chief executive officer at Baxter, said in a statement.
Mass General Brigham is among the health care systems that has not received its usual supply of IV fluid. Chief preparedness and continuity officer Dr. Paul Biddinger said during a press conference Friday that the hospital network expects to receive about 40% of what it usually gets from Baxter.
Biddinger called the supply constraint “one of the biggest shortages” the hospital network has ever dealt with.
Other manufacturers of IV fluids say they’re ramping up production to help cover the shortage. B. Braun said none of its manufacturing sites were affected by the Hurricane Helene, and that it’s “taking immediate steps to increase production at our pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in Irvine, California, and Daytona Beach, Florida, focusing on critical IV fluids.”
The company as also placed its products on “protective allocation” and is encouraging providers that administer IVs to practice conservation, including by using alternative hydration methods, a spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch.
ICU Medical, another IV fluid manufacturer, said it’s also taking steps “to increase production to help meet market needs while continuing to support our existing customers.”
Hospitals also experienced IV fluid shortages in 2017, when Hurricane Maria disrupted manufacturing.
“Having experienced similar challenges in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017, we continue to be mindful of how we manage the supply of these medications to ensure minimal impact on our patients. Hospital operations continue as normal and patient care remains unaffected,” Dr. Biddinger of Mass General Brigham said in a statement.
Several hospitals across the U.S. are grappling with shortages of IV fluid after flooding from Hurricane Helene forced medical fluid manufacturers to halt production.
Baxter International, the leading supplier of IV fluids to hospitals, said its facility in Marion, North Carolina, remains closed for the foreseeable future. In a statement on its website, the company says, “Baxter’s North Cove facility affected by flooding and currently closed for production as the company assesses extent of the impact.”
The company, which supplies about 60% of the country’s IV fluid bags, added that it’s working with federal agencies to support recovery efforts and “mitigate supply disruption to patients.”
IV fluids are administered intravenously to treat dehydration and are critical for surgery, during which patients are asleep for a long time and unable to eat and drink.
“Remediation efforts are already underway, and we will spare no resource — human or financial — to resume production and help ensure patients and providers have the products they need,” José (Joe) E. Almeida, chair, president and chief executive officer at Baxter, said in a statement.
Mass General Brigham is among the health care systems that has not received its usual supply of IV fluid. Chief preparedness and continuity officer Dr. Paul Biddinger said during a press conference Friday that the hospital network expects to receive about 40% of what it usually gets from Baxter.
Biddinger called the supply constraint “one of the biggest shortages” the hospital network has ever dealt with.
Other manufacturers of IV fluids say they’re ramping up production to help cover the shortage. B. Braun said none of its manufacturing sites were affected by the Hurricane Helene, and that it’s “taking immediate steps to increase production at our pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in Irvine, California, and Daytona Beach, Florida, focusing on critical IV fluids.”
The company as also placed its products on “protective allocation” and is encouraging providers that administer IVs to practice conservation, including by using alternative hydration methods, a spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch.
ICU Medical, another IV fluid manufacturer, said it’s also taking steps “to increase production to help meet market needs while continuing to support our existing customers.”
Hospitals also experienced IV fluid shortages in 2017, when Hurricane Maria disrupted manufacturing.
“Having experienced similar challenges in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017, we continue to be mindful of how we manage the supply of these medications to ensure minimal impact on our patients. Hospital operations continue as normal and patient care remains unaffected,” Dr. Biddinger of Mass General Brigham said in a statement.
Helene disrupts yellow jacket, bee nests in North Carolina, prompting massive Benadryl, EpiPen requests
Hospitals across the U.S. face IV fluid shortage after Hurricane Helene
Hospitals across the U.S. face IV fluid shortage after Hurricane Helene
Helene disrupts yellow jacket, bee nests in North Carolina, prompting massive Benadryl, EpiPen requests
Hospitals across the U.S. face IV fluid shortage after Hurricane Helene