Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/785757
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2017 Events 43 Flight diversions due to inf light medi- cal emergencies make up a tiny portion of the millions of f lights operated an- nually, but it is costly for airlines. With more people traveling by air, the ac- tual number of inf light medical events has been gradually increasing over the years. Emirates, the largest airline by inter- national traffic, operates over 3,500 de- partures a week, or more than 194,000 f lights in 2016. In those 12 months, the airline handled more than 60 f light di- versions due to medical emergencies. A single f light diversion can cost Emirates anything from US$50,000 to over US$600,000, depending on the na- ture of the diversion which include fuel, f light catering, landing and ground handling fees, air navigation cost, pas- senger rebooking costs and onward connection, as well as other associated costs to care for crew and passengers. Adel Al Redha, Emirates' Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Of- ficer, said: "The wellbeing of our cus- tomers is always our number one priori- ty. Airlines handle medical emergencies differently, as there are no international regulations on this front. At Emirates, like everything else we do, the safety of our passengers comes first. If there is a medical emergency on board, our crew have the training and equipment to help them assess the situation, and de- liver the best possible outcome for the affected passengers." In 2016, Emirates delivered nearly 23,000 hours of medical training for cabin crew and pilots, ensuring they are ready to assist passengers on board. All Emirates cabin crew go through a comprehensive initial training pro- gramme which is required by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, re- current training to keep their skills up to date, as well as additional specific training for the use of on board medical equipment. The medical training that Emirates cabin crew undertake includes both theory and practical aspects. Top- ics covered include basic life support (CPR); medical conditions including asthma, heart disorders, seizures and allergic reactions; trauma related topics and even emergency childbirth amongst others. Pilots also attend training ses- sions covering topics such as Hypoxia, Malaria, Dengue, Trauma, CPR and choking and occupational health issues. Emirates has also invested more than US$ 7 million in the installation of its medical equipment on board, with an- nual maintenance costs being a further US$ 1.7 million. Equipment on every Emirates aircraft include: emergency medical kits, oxygen bottles, resuscita- tors, a defibrillator, a telemedicine unit, and a 24/7, satellite medical advisory service that connects crew to specialist aviation medical consultants who can help assess the passenger's situation in real time. Making the right call On average, Emirates' crew make about 20 calls to the medical advisory service per 100,000 passengers f lown. Emirates' in-house team of aviation medical specialists, f light planners and operations controllers, all work closely to conduct detailed scenario planning and regular updates to diversion pro- tocols – in keeping with the airline's growing global network, as well as ad- vances in medical thinking, inf light medical technologies, and training techniques. Mr Al Redha said: "If we have to di- vert a f light, our aim is to get medical attention for the aff licted passenger as soon as possible. Via our medical advi- sory consultants and Emirates' own op- erations control team, we identify the best location where the passenger may receive appropriate care, and where the airport can adequately support the pas- sengers and aircraft. Emirates operates daily scheduled flights between Malta and Dubai via Larnaca, Cyprus, on a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline is currently offering special Economy Class fares with a sav- ing of up to 40% on a selection of Emir- ates destinations, including Larnaca starting from €143, all inclusive. Tickets can be booked and purchased by 28 Feb- ruary 2017. For more information, please visit www.emirates.com/mt Chanel Collection, Spring-Summer 2017 Lucia Pica, CHANEL Global Crea- tive Makeup and Colour Designer, has developed a new Spring 2017 makeup collection for CHANEL to celebrate, reinterpret and deci- pher the five iconic colour codes of CHANEL: red, black, gold, white and beige. COCO CODES is a collection that is a journey into the colours that shaped the life of Gabrielle Chanel. Her use of colour was defiant, unexpected, elegant and bold - and always utterly original. Now a part of the very fabric and history of CHANEL, it is impossible to imagine the House without them. Yet in this collection, Lucia Pica has found a way to re-infuse these classic shades with her own el- egant irreverence, breathing new life into these beloved colours, and challenging conventional modes of beauty. Rouge noir can now adorn the lips in Spring. White and beige are re-imagined for nails. Red becomes younger, bolder, more audacious than ever. "I want to reverse beauty expectations and have women challenge them- selves," states Lucia Pica. BLEU DE CHANEL is an ar- omatic-woody fragrance with a dense and sensual amber qual- ity that conveys strength and el- egance. The Eau de Parfum dis- tinguishes itself by the energy harnessed from fields of citrus fruit, the strength of aromatic herbs, and the sensuality of dry cedar notes. With the CHANEL Travel Spray, men can now wear BLEU DE CHANEL Eau de Parfum anywhere, anytime. An elegant practical format, with two refills, it slips eas- ily into a sports bag or suitcase, and can be kept close at hand. Chanel is distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd Dine at Burger King Sliema for a chance to win €500 A Burger King Cash is King promotion is run- ning exclusively in the Burger King Sliema outlet during the month of February. Anyone who purchases any meal from Burger King Sliema will be given a ticket to fill in and drop in a collection box. Every week the box will be emptied, one lucky winner will be drawn and, upon answering a question correctly, gifted with €500 in cash. Emirates sets standards for on-board medical care