DR DAVE Flashcards
Decompression
Immediate: Noise, Wind (high to low pressure) , Mist, Cold
(Hypoxic) Hypoxia - lack of oxygen to the critical tissues sufficient to cause impairment of function (due to the reduction in the partial pressure with altitude). Symptoms, visual (reduced night vision, peripheral, colour, acuity, dimming), physical (tremor, muscular incoordination, slurred speech, cyanosis (blueing/tingling of the lips), mental (loss of judgement, poor problem solving ability, loss of short term memory, tiredness, task fixation).
TUC - the time elapsed between the interruption of oxygen supply/the exposure to an oxygen deficient environment and the individuals loss of ability to perform routine flying tasks or take preventative action against hypoxia. TUC at FL250 is 2-3 minutes. Crew must put oxygen masks on prior to the end of this period, ideally ASAP. Initial recovery will occur in a matter of seconds, a full recovery within 3-5 minutes.
Barotrauma - pain caused by trapped gases within the body that expand/contract in flight. With rapid decompression the pain will be most prominent in the teeth and intestines. Boyles law, pressure and volume inverse relationship.
Decompression sickness - nitrogen bubbles developing as a result of exposure to decreased environmental pressure.
Hypothermia -
G force
What is GLOC
What causes it
Methods to prevent
Aging
Environment - UV light (degenerates eyes, cataracts), damages skin
Smoking
Toxic chemicals
Food
Drugs/alcohol
Medication
Obesity
Sleep
Disease
Risk taking
Exercise
Sex/relationships
Humor
Spatial disorientation
failure to correctly sense the position, motion, or attitude of yourself or your a/c in relation to gravity and the earth surface
Example - somatogravic illusion, sensation that the body/aircraft is pitching up during acceleration
Sleep optimisation
Cool, dark, quiet environment
Avoid caffeine 6 hours prior
Do not sleep too full/hungry
Consistent schedule if possible
Don’t read/work in bedroom/bed
If can’t sleep after 30 mins get up and read
Exercise, not too close to bed time
