Chapter 16 - Hazards of Aviation Flashcards

1
Q

What are the symptoms of hypoxia?

A

Apparent personality change/euphoria

Head ache

Tingling in hand and feet

Pallor and cyanosis

Increased rate of breathing

Muscular impairment

Memory impairment

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2
Q

What factors determine a person’s susceptibility to hypoxia?

A

Altitude

Rate of decompression

Being cold (more energy and therefore oxygen needed for shivering)

Time (exposure)

Exercise

Extremes of temperature

Illness/fatigue

Alcohol/drugs

Smoking

Age

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3
Q

What happens to a persons oxygen carrying capacity if they smoke 20-30 cigaretts a day?

A

It reduces by 4-10%

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4
Q

What happens to a person’s physiological altitude if the smoke 20-30 cigaretts a day?

A

it raises by 4000-5000ft.

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5
Q

What level can a person who smokes 20-30 cigaretts a day get hypoxic?

A

6000ft

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6
Q

What are some prevention techniques to stop death/severe consequences from hypoxia?

A

Having a servicable oxygen supply in flights above 10000ft

Ensure passengers are correctly breifed

Fly only if 100% fit and not on medication or drugs

Ensure heaters are checked and enusure that fresh air is also brought into cabin.

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7
Q

What are some treatments for hypoxia while flying?

A

Go on oxygen

Decsend to sufficient oxygen level but no lower than minimum safe altitude.

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8
Q

What are the 4 zones of hypoxic hypoxia?

A

1) Indifferent zone (GL - 10000ft)
- Night vision affected as low as 5000ft
2) Compensatory zone (10000 - 15000ft)
- Automatic responses provide some protection against hypoxia to maintain homeostasis
3) Distrubance zone (15000 - 20000ft)
- Classic Symptoms of hypoxia
4) Critical zone (20000 - 30000ft)
- Homeostatic system can no longer cope

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9
Q

What are the 3 thresholds of hypoxia?

A

1) Reaction threshold (GL - 7000ft)
- dark adaption is adversely affected as low as 5000ft
2) Disturbance threshold (7000 - 12000ft)
- Auto responses provide some protection against hypoxia trying to maintain homeostasis.
3) Critical threshold - (12000 - 22000)
- Incapacitation with loss of conciousness follws with little or no warning.

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10
Q

What is the time of useful conciousness? (TUC)

A

The time available to a pilot to recognise the development of hypoxia and do something about it.

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11
Q

What will TUC be affected by?

A

Individual fitness

Workload

If the person is a smoker

Obesity

Decompression being progressive or explosive.

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12
Q

What are the rough TUCs at different altitudes?

A

20000ft - 30 minutes

30000ft - 1-2 minutes

35000ft - 30 - 90 seconds

40000ft - 15 - 20 seconds

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13
Q

How much will TUC be reduced by if somebody smokes?

A

50%

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14
Q

How does time of effective performance relate to TUC?

A

It will always be lower or the same.

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15
Q

What is hyperventillation?

A

Lung ventillation in excess of the bodys needs.

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16
Q

What can cause hyperventillation?

A

Anxiety

Motion sickness

Shock

Vibrations

Heat

High G-forces

Pressure breaathing (diving)

17
Q

What are the symptoms of hyperventillation?

A

Dizziness & feeling unreality

Tingling

Visual disturbances

hot or cold sensations

Anxiety (creating a vicious cycle)

Loss of muscular coordination and impaired performance

Increased heart rate

Spasms

Loss of conciousness

18
Q

What affect does hyperventillation have on the blood acidity?

A

it makes it more alkaline.

19
Q

How do you treat hyperventillation?

A

Breathing in a paper bag (reintroduce CO2)

20
Q

What should you do if you are unsure whether someone is hypoxic or hyperventillating?

A

Treat for hypoxia

21
Q

What effect can decompression have on an aircraft?

A

The cabin altitude can rise by 5000ft

Sudden drop in temperature can cause mosting or fogging of windows

22
Q

What are the procedures if a cabin decompresses?

A

1) Put on oxygen maskand set to 100%
2) Declare emergency
3) seatbelt sign on
4) Initiate a controlled descent to the higher of 10000 cabin altitude or minimum safe altitude.
5) Once landed obtain medical advice for recompression

23
Q

Who should you first look after following decompression?

24
Q

How does decompression sickness come about?

A

From nitrogen in the blood coming out of solution in the form of bubbles.

Associated with heights of around 18000 - 25000ft

Unlikey below 14000ft

25
What are the symptoms of decompression sickness?
The Bends - deep pain in large joints Creeps - intense itching in upper body skin Chokes - shortness of breath, dry cough, chest pain aggrivated by breathing Staggers - loss of balance, loss of hearing, virtigo Post decsent collapse
26
How can decompression sickness be avoided?
Going on oxygen before decompression.
27
How do you treat decompression sickness in flight?
Keep passenger warm and rested Give them 100% oxygen Land ASAP or descend if ssomeone is suffering On landing seek medical assistance regardless of apparent recovery
28
How long should you avoid flying for after diving?
12hrs if compressed air diving 24hrs if 30 feet depth had been exceeded. Assume worst case if not clear.