6.12.23 – Smoke, Odor or Fume (SOF) Events Response

Smoke, Odor or Fume (SOF) Events Response

Monday, June 12, 2023

As of June 3rd, APFA Safety & Security has been conducting outreach to Flight Attendants involved in Cabin Odor or SOF (Smoke, Odor, or Fume) events.

If involved in a fume event, you will receive a text with a link to the following checklist, which provides the necessary steps to follow immediately after fume exposure.

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NOTE: You will only receive this text if you have opted-in to receiving texts from APFA. If not, APFA Safety and Security Department representatives have been instructed to call the number you have on file with APFA to ensure that the same information is communicated to you. To opt-in to receiving texts from APFA, go to your profile on apfa.org or email [email protected].

If faced with a Cabin Odor or SOF (Smoke, odor, and fume) event:

• Immediately provide details to the Flight Deck.
• You may also record the details of the event onto the CDW or Cabin Discrepancy Worksheet, so that it can be delivered to the captain who will record that information into the logbook.

Include the following details:

• Phase of flight – gate, taxi, takeoff, climb, descent, landing.
• Description of odor – musty, dirty sock, sweet, burnt plastic.
• Location within aircraft – where do you smell it.
• Duration of event – was it persistent throughout the flight or transient?
• Is anyone experiencing any symptoms and requires medical attention?
• Continue to update the flight deck should conditions change, improve, or worsen.

All Flight Attendants should submit this information into a CERS report within 24hrs so that tech ops can address it. You may also file a Cabin ASAP report under General/Specific Safety Concern > Fire/Smoke/Odor.

If immediately following the flight, you begin to experience any physical symptoms: headache, bloody nose, chest tightness, profound fatigue, muscle aches, elevated blood pressure, sinus congestion and/or a persistent cough, contact the Flight Service Daily Operations desk at IOC (682-315-7070) to report the event and your illness/ injury in order to receive the necessary assistance in seeking immediate medical treatment at the nearest hospital for proper testing of a possible exposure. Recommended testing should include a blood test to determine exposure. Flight Attendants may also contact MedAire for exposure to SOF events by calling 877-346-9174 or 480-333-3801.

If you seek treatment at the hospital, you must File an IOD.

Outreach is typically conducted by an Inflight Manager or another member of Inflight management. After being sent to the hospital, crews are often left without information or advisement of necessary steps that need to be taken to protect their health.

APFA will always provide you with immediate support and resources after a critical event, especially in all areas where Inflight management is, once again, falling short.

In Solidarity,

Andrew Rhinehart
APFA National Safety & Security  Chair
[email protected]