ACAT.09 Aeromed Flashcards
Self-imposed stressors
DEATH:
Drugs
Exhaustion
Alcohol
Tobacco
Hypoglicemia (diet)
4 types of Hypoxia
Hypoxic (not enough oxygen in the air or too little pressure)
Hypemic (Oxygen carryin capacity of the blood is reduced e.g. by smoking because of carbon monooxide)
Stagnant (Circulation is inadequate e.g. because of high G’s or occlution/pinching of blood vessels)
Histotoxic (Interference with the use of oxygen by the body tissues eg. alcohol poisoning, narcotics and certain poisons such as cyanide)
Define Hypoxic hypoxia
Insufficient pressure of O2 in the air; e.g. flying at altitude
Four stages of hypoxia
Indifferent (0-10,000 ft - night vision deteriorates) Compensatory (10-15,000 ft - Drowsiness, poor judgment and impaired coordination)
Disturbance (15-20,000 ft - The physiological responses can no longer compensate for the oxygen deficiency. Fatigue, sleepiness, dizziness, headache, breathlessness and euphoria are most reported symptoms)
Critical (20-25,000 ft - Within three to five minutes, judgment and coordination usually deteriorate. Subsequently, mental confusion, dizziness, incapacitation, and unconsciousness occur.
Define Histotoxic hypoxia
Interference with the use of O2 by the body tissues; e.g. cyanide poisoning
Define Hypemic hypoxia
Reduction in O2 carrying capability of red blood cells; e.g. carbon monoxide
Define Stagnant hypoxia
Reduction in blood flow; e.g. positive G maneuvers
Treatment for Spatial disorientation
Develop and maintain cross-check
Delay intuitive reactions
Refer to instruments
Transfer controls
Somatogravic illusions
The leans Graveyard spin Coriolis
Most deadly and most unrecoverable Somatogravic illusion
Coriolis illusion
Measures to prevent SD include:
- Never fly without visual reference points 2. Maintain SA 3. Never try to fly both IFR and VRF at the same time 4. Avoid self-imposed stressors (DEATH) 5. Trust your instruments 6. Cockpit management 7. Education/training 8. Instrument profficency 9. Aircraft design
Define Spatial disorientation
The inability to determine ones position, attitude and motion relative to the surface of the earth or significant objects.
When pilots experience SD they are unable to interpret or prove the information from the flight instruments. They instead rely on the false information that their senses provide
The 3 types of Spatial disorientation
Type 1. - Unrecognized
Type 2. - Recognized
Type 3. - Incapacitating
Most dangerous type of SD
Type 1. - unrecognized
Which of the 5 senses is the most important to maintain equilibrium and orientation?
Vision. 80% of our orientation information comes from the visual system.e
Vestibular system
Semicircular canals sense changes in _______ acceleration and react to any changes in ______, ________ and ______ attitude
Otolith Organs sense changes in ________ and _______ accelerations / deccelerations
Angular - Yaw - Roll - Pitch
Gravity - Linear
A smoker at sea level is actually at altitude:
5000 ft.
At 18.000 ft., the usefull time of consciousness is:
20-30 mins
Define Fatigue
The state of feeling tired, weary, or sleepy that results from periods of anxiety, exposure to harsh environment, or loss of sleep. (also prolonged mental or physical work and boring or monotonous tasks)
The 3 types of fatigue
- Acute 2. Chronic 3. Burnout
Describe chronic fatigue
Occurs over a longer period and is typically the result of inadequate recovery from successive periods of acute fatigue. Recovery may take several weeks of rest to completely eliminate chronic fatigue.
The 3 characteristics associated with chronic fatigue
Depressed mood Irritability poor judgement
The only significant effect of hypxia in the indifferent stage is ______ and_______ and it occurs at what altitude?
Acuity Color perception SL-10.000 ft.
Which type of hypoxia does smoking cause?
Hypemic hypoxia
Prevention methods for hypoxic hypoxia
- Limit time at altitude
- Pressurzed cabin
- minimize self-imposed stressors
- Use supplemental oxygen
Define hypoxia
State of oxygen deficiency in the blood cells and tissues sufficient to cause impairment of function.
Treatment of hypoxia
- Give the individual 100% oxygen
- If oxygen is not available, descend to an altitude below 10,000 ft. is mandatory.
Describe acute fatigue
Acute fatigue develops after being awake for 12-15 hours in a day with no rest. Typically after one regular sleep period an aircrew member will overcome this fatigue
Describe motivational exhaution (burnout)
If chronic fatigue proceeds untreated for too long, the individual will eventually “shut down” and cease functioning, occupationally and socially.
Vestibular illutions
Somatogyral Illutions:
Leans, Graveyard spiral, Coriolis illutions
Somatogravic Illutions:
Oculogravic, elevator, oculoagravic illutions
Proprioceptive system reacts to?
Reacts to sensations resulting on sensors in the joints, muscles and skin from slight changes in the positions of internal organs.
May lead to a false perception of true vertical.
Prevention of SD?
Never fly without a visual horizon (artificial or actual)
Never fly VMC and IMC at the same time
Trust the instruments
Avoid fatigue, smoking, hypoglycemia, hypoxia, and anxiety, which all highten illutions.
Grounding times
What will ground you for 6 hours?
Centrifuge Runs
Grounding times
What will ground you for 12 hours?
Anesthesia (local, regional, dental)
Alcohol
Immunizations, any
Simulator sickness
Grounding times
What will ground you for 24 hours?
Plasma donation
Hypobaric chamber above 25.000 ft
Decompression experience above 10.000 ft
Scuba diving
Grounding times
What will ground you for 48 hours?
Anesthesia (general, spinal, epidural)
Grounding times
What will ground you for 72 hours?
Blood donation (200 cc or more)
Medication has to be completed and cleared by _________
a flight surgeon or APA.
Vision must be corrected to
20/20
