Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when people sit in the same position for prolonged periods of time. It slows the circulation of blood causing clots in the legs. The condition can be fatal if the clots detach and are carried to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. DVT which has long been associated with air travel. Hence the German manufacturers Aida came up with a solution called flip seats which give passengers more space and reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. The seats were first showcased at an aviation show in Hamburg. Thomsonfly has said that it will consider introducing these seats on its planes. The seats are cost effective and provide a cheap solution to the problem.
John Smith, Labour MP for the Vale of Glamorgan and chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on thrombosis said that the seating arrangements in most of the aircrafts are not conducive and this is a simple solution giving passengers space to move. Statistics show that about 25000 DVT deaths occur in a year of which 8,000 are found to be British passengers and more than 40 are long-haul passengers. But airlines continue to deny this fact and point out other situation in which prolonged inaction of the leg is experienced. But Professor Frits Rosendaal of the University of Amsterdam suggests that air travel increases the risk of DVT by a factor of five. In conclusion the government announced that it would it would begin to gather information from thrombosis patients about their air travel.
