Aeromed Flashcards

1
Q

Flight restrictions due to exogenous factors

A

C-C-ASIA-PHDS-A-B-PHDA

  • 0 hours:
    • C: CS exposure - no restrictions with no residual systemic or local effects
  • 6 hours:
    • C: Centrifuge runs
  • 12 hours:
    • A: Alcohol - as long as no residual effects remain
    • S: Simulator sickness - restriction starts after full resolution of symptoms
    • I: Immunizations
    • A: Anesthesia - local, regional, dental
  • 24 hours:
    • P: Plasma donation
    • H: Hypobaric chamber > 25K
    • D: Decompression experience > 10K
    • S: SCUBA diving
  • 48 hours:
    • A: Anesthesia - general, spinal, epidural
  • 72 hours:
    • B: Blood donation - 200cc or more
  • Requires Flight Surgeon or APA approval:
    • P: Performance enhancers
    • H: Herbal supplements
    • D: Dietary aids
    • A: All medications except OTC listend in APL
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2
Q

Definition of hypoxia

A
  • Condition where the body lacks oxygen
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3
Q

Types of hypoxia

A
  • Hypoxic
    • Not enough oxygen pressure
      • Altitude, lack of O² in the body
  • Hypemic
    • Reduction of the O² carrying capacity of the blood
      • Carbon monoxide poison, smoking
  • Stagnat
    • Decrease in circulation, pooling of blood
      • Medical conditions, extreme G forces
  • Histotoxic
    • Interference with the use of O² by body tissues
      • Alcohol, drugs, cyanide poison
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4
Q

Stages of hypoxia

A

ICDC

  • Indifferent
    • Sea level - 10,000 ft PA
    • 98-90% O²
  • Compensatory
    • 10,000 - 15,000 ft PA
    • 89-80% O²
  • Disturbance
    • 15,000 - 20,000 ft PA
    • 79-70% O²
  • Critical
    • > 20,000 ft PA
    • < 69% O²
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5
Q

Signs of hypoxia

A
  • Signs are objective - observed by others
    • Hyperventialation
    • Cyanosis
    • Mental confusion
    • Poor judgement
    • Muscle incoordination
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6
Q

Symptoms of hypoxia

A
  • Symptoms are felt by the individual:
    • Air hunger
    • Apprehension
    • Fatigue
    • Headache
    • Dizziness
    • Hot/cold flahses
    • Tingling
    • Numbness
    • Tunnel vision
    • Blurred vision
    • Belligerence
    • Euphoria
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7
Q

Prevention of hypoxia

A

PUL

  • Pressurize the cabin
  • Use supplemental O²
  • Limit time at altitude
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8
Q

Treatment of hypoxia

A
  • Administer 100% O²
  • Descend to altitude below 10,000 ft PA
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9
Q

Definition of spatial disorientation

A
  • An individual’s inability to determine position, attitude, and motion relative to a point of reference, usually the surface of the earth.
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10
Q

Definition of vertigo

A
  • A spinning sensation usually caused by a peripheral vestibular abnormality in the ear.
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11
Q

Types of spatial disorientation

A
  • Type I: Unrecognized
    • Most dangerous
  • Type II: Recognized
  • Type III: Incapacitating
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12
Q

3 types of sensory systems

A
  • Visual
    • Provides 80% of orientation
  • Vestibular
    • Otolith organs: gravity, linear accel/deceleration
    • Semicircular canals: angular acceleration, roll/pitch/yaw
  • Proprioceptive
    • Sensors in joints, muscle, and skin
    • Flying by “seat of your pants”
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13
Q

Visual illusions

A

Fire Fire Fire CRASH CARS

  • F: Fascination/fixation
    • Task saturation, focused inside (fascINation)
    • Target fixation (outside) and ignore orientation cues
  • F: False horizons
    • Confusion of cloud formation with the horizon or ground
  • F: Flicker vertigo
    • Blades interrupting direct sunlight at 4-20 cycles per second
    • Flashing anti-collision lights, especially in the clouds
  • C: Confusions with ground lights
    • Ground lights perceived as celestial lights or vice versa
  • R: Relative motion
    • Falsely preceived self-motion in relation to motion of another object
  • A: Altered planes of reference
    • Inaccurate sense of altitude, attitude, or flight path in relation to a large object that replaces the horizon (mountains/valleys)
  • S: Size/distance
    • Misinterpretation of an unfamiliar object’s size
  • H: Height/depth perception
    • Due to lack of visual cues, perception that aircraft is higher than it actually is, lose sight of the ground
  • C: Crater
    • Illusion that aircraft is landing in a hole or crater
    • Created when searchlight is positioned too far under the nose
  • A: Autokinesis
    • Static lights appear to move after staring at them for several seconds
  • R: Reversible perspective
    • Aircraft appears to be going away when it is actually approaching
  • S: Structural
    • Curvature of windscreen causes refraction of light rays
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14
Q

Vestibular illusions

A
  • Somatogyral - semicircular canals
    • Leans: failure to preceive angular motion
    • Graveyard spin: equilibrium, no preceived motion
    • Coriolis illusion: intense sensation of tumbling
      • Most dangerous of all vestibular illusions
  • Somatogravic - otolith organs
    • Oculogravic: accel/decel = nose high illusion
    • Elevator: vertical up/down = nose high illusion
    • Oculoagravic: vertical down = nose low illusions
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15
Q

Prevention of spatial disorientation

A

VVTS - FASH²

  • V: visual, maintain references
  • V: VMC or IMC, not both
  • T: trust the instruments
  • S: self, avoid stressors
    • F: Fatigue
    • A: Anxiety
    • S: Smoking
    • H: Hypoglycemia
    • H: Hypoxia
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16
Q

Treatment of spatial disorientation

A

DIRT

  • D: delay intuitive reaction
  • I: incorporate a good cross-check
  • R: refer to instruments
  • T: transfer controls
17
Q

Physiological altitude: Smoking

A
  1. Hemoglobin of RBCs has a 200-300 times greater affinity for carbon monoxide than for oxygen
  2. Loss of about 20% night vision at sea level
  3. Physiological altitude of 5,000 ft at sea level
18
Q

Physiological altitude: Alcohol

A
  1. Creates histotoxic hypoxia
  2. 1 oz. of alcohol can have physiological affect of 2,000 ft at sea level
19
Q

Definition of fatigue

A
  • The state of feeling tired, weary, or sleepy that results from prolonged mental or physical work, extended periods of anxiety, exposure to harsh environments, or loss of sleep.
  • Boring or monotonous tasks may increase fatigue.
20
Q

3 types of fatigue

A
  1. Acute
  2. Chronic
  3. Motivational exhaustion (burnout)
21
Q

Fatigue: Acute

A
  • Increased mental or physical activity between two periods of sleep
  • Being awake 12-15 hours can result in loss of coordination and awareness of errors
  • Signs/symptoms
    • Inattention
    • Distractibility
    • Errors in timing
    • Neglect of secondary tasks
    • Loss of accuracy
    • Loss of control
    • Lack of awareness of error accumulation
    • Irritability
  • Can be overcome with a regular sleep period
22
Q

Fatigue: Chronic

A
  • More serious type of fatigue
  • Occurs over a longer period and is typically a result of inadequate recovery from successive periods of acute fatigue
  • Causes physical and mental exhaustion
  • Can result in social problems such as family or financial
  • Signs/symptoms
    • Insomnia
    • Depressed mood
    • Irritability
    • Weight loss
    • Poor judgement
    • Loss of appetite
    • Slowed reaction time
    • Poor motivation and job performance
  • May take several weeks of rest to overcome
23
Q

Fatigue: Motivational exhaustion

A
  • Also referred to as “burnout”
  • Occcurs when chronic fatigue proceeds untreated for too long
  • Results in individual “shutting down”
  • Can’t function occupationally or socially
24
Q

Definition of stress

A
  • The nonspecific response of the body to any demand placed upon it
25
Q

Self imposed stressors

A

DEATH

  • D: Drugs
  • E: Exhaustion
  • A: Alcohol
  • T: Tobacco
  • H: Hypoglycemia
26
Q

Self imposed stressors: Drugs

A

SOAPS-C

  • S: Self medication
    • Unwanted side effects from OTC medications
  • O: Overdose
    • Medications should be taken as prescribed
  • A: Allergic reaction
    • Exaggerated or pathological reaction to medicine
  • P: Predictable side effects
    • Desirable effects that accompany the medication
  • S: Synergistic effects
    • Undesirable effects from combining medications
  • C: Caffeine
    • Potential for negative effects if not used in moderation
27
Q

Middle ear discomfort

A
  • Ascents: as barometric pressure decreases during ascent, expanding air in the middle ear begins to push agains the eardrum, causing it to bulge out
    • Air escapes through the Eustachian tube, equalizing pressure
    • Complicated by respiratory infections
  • Descents: pressure changes within the ear may not occur automatically, increase in barometric pressure cause outside air to push eardrum inward
    • If pressure differential increases rapidly, Eustachian tube may be pushed shut, preventing pressure equalization
    • To attempt to equalize pressure, swallow, yawn, tense throat, or perform Valsalva maneuver
    • If pain continues and pressure can’t be equalized, ascend to a level at which pressure can be equalized and commence with a SLOW descent
  • DO NOT valsalva during ascent (creates over pressure)
  • After landing, if pressure has not equalized, see flight surgeon
28
Q

Physical responses of stress

A
  • Increase in adrenaline
  • Sweaty palms
  • Increased heart rate
  • Trembling
  • Shortness of breath
  • Gastrointestinal distress
  • Muscle tension
  • Sleep problems
  • Increased blood pressure
29
Q

Signs of stress

A
  • Behavioral
  • Emotional
  • Cognitive (mental)
30
Q

Types of stressors

A
  • Cognitive
    • Mental approach to situations
  • Physiological
    • Physical state of health
  • Psychosocial
    • External things with emotional impact
  • Environmental
    • Physical stress placed on the body (weather)
31
Q

Methods for coping with stress

A
  • Minimize stressors (most powerful technique)
  • Change thinking
  • Learn to relax
  • Breathing techniques