A B737 CREW; ENRTE AT FL310; EXPERIENCED A PAX MEDICAL EMER. DURING EXPEDITED DSCNT; AT FL210; THE FLAPS WERE INADVERTENTLY EXTENDED TO 5 DEGS; 1000 FT ABOVE THE FLAP EXTENSION LIMIT ALT OF FL200.

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DURING AN EMER MEDICAL DIVERT; FLAPS 5 DEGS WAS SELECTED IN THE DSCNT AT 240 KTS AND FL210. THE LIMITATION SECTION OF OUR MANUAL STATES; 'MAX FLAP EXTENSION ALT FL200;' PLT REF MANUAL STATES 'FLAP EXTENSION ABOVE 20000 FT SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED.' AN EMER HAD BEEN DECLARED; CAPT EMER AUTH WAS IN EFFECT. ENRTE CRUISE FROM ATL TO LGA; 'A-LINE' FLT ATTENDANT INFORMED COCKPIT OF A PAX HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING; LIGHT HEADED AND SWEATING. OXYGEN WAS ADMINISTERED AND SEEMED TO HELP THE SIT. AFTER A FEW MINS; FLT ATTENDANT RPTED PAX WAS GETTING WORSE; LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND HAD STOPPED BREATHING. CPR WAS STARTED. FLT DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT; BWI. FO TOOK CTL OF ACFT AND RADIOS WHILE CAPT COORDINATED THE DIVERT AND MEDICAL SUPPORT ISSUES. VFR DSCNT AND APCH WERE ACCOMPLISHED. FLT ARRIVED AT GATE WITH WAITING MEDICAL PERSONNEL. ENRTE TO BWI; PAX BEGAN BREATHING; BUT REMAINED UNCONSCIOUS. DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR MEDICAL EMER. DURING THE DSCNT; FLAPS WERE EXTENDED AT FL210 AND 240 KTS. MAINT INSPECTION FOR OVERSPD WAS PERFORMED WITH NO PROBS RPTED. FO AND FLT ATTENDANT CREW DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. ATC WAS EXCELLENT AND COMPLIED WITH ALL REQUESTS.