1 / 37

Aerospace Medicine Topics

89 th Physiological Training Flight DSN 857-4654. Aerospace Medicine Topics. Overview. Medical Standards Fatigue and Performance Spatial D Awareness. Medical Standards. Ensure acquisition and retention of members who are medically fit for military duty Standard med exam required before:

aron
Download Presentation

Aerospace Medicine Topics

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 89th Physiological Training Flight DSN 857-4654 Aerospace Medicine Topics

  2. Overview • Medical Standards • Fatigue and Performance • Spatial D Awareness

  3. Medical Standards • Ensure acquisition and retention of members who are medically fit for military duty • Standard med exam required before: • Entry into special duty • Periodically as required • Termination of service when specified • but not for retirement • if current and health status unchanged, don’t need physical

  4. Medical Standards • Periodic med exam required for controllers • annually within 3 months (max of 6) preceding the last day of the birth month • Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) • focus on member’s age, sex, health risk factors, medical history and occupation to determine the scope of the assessment

  5. Medical Standards • Responsibilities • Member’s commander • Ensure member is available for examination until all processing is complete • Member • Meet scheduled appt as directed • Report to FSO medical/dental treatment obtained through civilian sources and • Report to FSO any medical condition that hinders/may hinder duty performance

  6. Medical Standards • Causes for DNIC • Use of any medication whose known actions may affect alertness, judgement, cognition, special sensory function, mood, or coordination • Exacerbation of any medical condition for which a waiver has been granted

  7. Medical Standards • Causes for DNIC • Air Traffic Controllers cannot perform controller duties for at least 8 hours after receiving a local or regional anesthetic agent • Blood donation requires a verbal DNIC for 8 hours and does not require flight surgeon clearance to return to duties

  8. Causes of Fatigue • Sleep Loss • Poor Quality Sleep • TDY/Travel • Circadian desynchrony • Jet Lag • Shift Work

  9. Fatigue and Performance • Studies show sleep loss results in: • Increased reaction time • Decreased vigilance • Cognitive slowing • Memory problems • Time-on-task decrements • Let’s talk about sleep...

  10. Sleep Requirements 5 hours 8% of population 5-6 hours 15% 6-8 hours 64% 8-10 hours 13%

  11. Stages of Sleep • Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep • increased physiological and mental activity • Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep • slowed physiological and mental activity • stages 1 and 2 - light sleep • stages 3 and 4 - deep sleep

  12. Normal Sleep, Brain Pattern Awake REM Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

  13. Many Factors Can Disrupt Sleep • Environmental (temperature, noise, light) • Alcohol (more than 2 drinks) • Caffeine prior to bedtime • Jet lag • Medical conditions (sleep apnea, restless legs) • Medications

  14. Circadian Rhythm • Natural “body clock” • Influences performance, sleepiness • Influenced by hormones, body temp, eating patterns • Reset by environmental zeitgebers • light!

  15. Circadian Rhythms • Body clock resynchronized by external cues • the most studied and accepted is bright light • others may include social cues, temperature, exercise, and diet • poorly timed exposure to bright light may prolong or worsen circadian desynchrony

  16. Circadian Rhythms • Cyclical fluctuations in biologic activities • results in peaks and troughs in function/performance • sleepiness is normally increased twice per circadian day • 3-5 A.M. • 3-5 P.M.

  17. Day Sleep Expectancies

  18. Typical Circadian Rhythm

  19. Circadian Rhythms Fatigue -related vehicular accidents by time of day International Data (N=6,052) 1200 1100 1000 900 800 Number of accidents 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 Midnight 6 a.m. Noon 6 p.m. Midnight Time of day

  20. Recovery from Operational Fatigue • Effects of sleep loss are under-appreciated • adverse effects of fatigue often attributed to other factors (inattention, performance errors, poor judgement, etc.) • Yes motivation helps, but it is impossible to will yourself fully alert • if sufficiently sleep deprived, individual may experience unintended sleep episodes

  21. Preventive Strategies - One technique Report Time Midnight Noon Midnight Duty Day 12 Hr Off Duty Sleep Sleep Awake Awake Early Sunlight Limit sunlight during day Caffeine Avoid Caffeine during day Exercise Limit activity during day

  22. Operational Strategy-Caffeine • Tasteless substance • Powerful CNS stimulant • Addictive • Be aware of how much you’re taking in

  23. Caffeine Content* TEA COFFEE BREWED …………...…. 80-135 mg INSTANT ………………. 65-100 CAPPUCCINO (16 oz) ..70 DECAF .....……………... 3-5 GREEN..………….. 30 mg LEAF/BAG ....….... 50 SNAPPLE(16 oz) .. 48 COFFEE, GRANDE (16oz) STARBUCKS …. 550 mg MOUNTAIN DEW .......…... 55 mg COKE (12 oz) ...............…. 45 WATER JOE (16 oz) .…….60-70 Recommended Maximum Intake for 24 Hours = 200 - 250 mg *From: Barone, J.J. and Roberts, H. R. 1996. “Caffeine Consumption.” Food Chemistry and Toxicology, vol. 34, p 119-129.

  24. Too Much Caffeine • ANXIETY • DEHYDRATION • DEPRESSION • FAULTY THINKING/FALSE SENSE OF ALERTNESS • FINGER TREMOR • INSOMNIA • FATIGUE/SLEEP LOSS

  25. Considerations to minimize problems associated with shift work: • Ensure good exposure to sunlight during the day • Take proper “lunch” breaks during night shifts • Avoid a heavy meal • Napping on lunch breaks • Lighting techniques/temperature control • Take extreme care when driving home after shift • Physical activity (take walks, drink water, get fresh air, etc…)

  26. Strategies - Sleep Hygiene • Try to maintain consistent bedtime habits to set stage for sleep (pre-sleep routines) • Muscle relaxation techniques may help with stress reduction and sleep onset • Avoid heavy meals, caffeine and alcohol prior to sleep • Ensure a good sleep environment • Cool, dark, quiet… • If you can’t sleep within 30 minutes of getting in bed get up.

  27. Spatial Disorientation Awareness

  28. VISUAL VESTIBULAR SEAT-OF-THE-PANTS AUDITORY Balance and Orientation

  29. When does SD occur?

  30. Types of Disorientation • Type I - Unrecognized • Type II - Recognized • Type III - Incapacitating

  31. Factors conducive to SDO • Poor outside references (dusk to dawn, clouds, haze, etc) • High G, sustained/high roll rate • High workload, distraction • runway change, short approach, IFE, etc. • Fatigue

  32. How Can Controllers Help? • Query significant flying deviations • Query significant communications lapses or miscommunications • BE ASSERTIVE AND SPECIFIC!!!

  33. How Can Controllers Help? • At night/in Wx: • minimize heading and altitude changes • use short phrases • use calm, unhurried communications • If the pilot reports a problem with SDO: • while maneuvering for approach, direct pilot out of Wx, if possible • Offer PAR or ASR if available

  34. SDO can happen... • To who? • Anyone • When? • Day or Night • Good Wx or Bad

  35. You can... • Be aware of SDO • Crosstalk with wing pilots • Treat high risk conditions with caution

  36. Questions?... 1Lt Kristina Rustad 89 PTF 7-4654 89th PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAINING FLIGHT

More Related