The Human Condition Flashcards
What percentage of aviation accidents are now caused by pilot error?
More than 80%
What accidents do low-hour pilots feature more in?
- Handling errors
What is BMI?
Body Mass Index
- Relates weight to height by means of a formula
What is the BMI formula?
BMI= Weight in kgs/ Height in metres squared
If your BMI is above 25, you are considered to be….
Overweight
If your BMI is above 30, you are considered to be…
Obese
What is your body weight a result of?
The ratio of food intake to energy expenditure
i.e. Think calories in vs energy out
How can one reduce their weight?
- Reduce calories
or - Increase energy expenditure
What 7 rules does the National heart foundation recommend?
- Reduce fat
- Reduce salt
- Reduce sugar
- Eat more fruit and vegetables
- Eat a wide variety of foods
- Eat proper meals at regular intervals
- Excercise more regularly
What does too much salt result in?
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
What exercise is recommended?
- 20 minutes of brisk walking 2-3 times a week
- Double your heart rate for 30 minutes 3x per week
What is the maximum heart rate calculation?
Maximum heart rate is 220bpm- age in years
What is the pinch test?
- Pinch yourself above the hip
- The skin you hold should be no more than 12mm thick
If in the pinch test you have more than 20mm of skin what should you consider doing?
Improving your fitness level
What are many diseases related to?
Diet
What is gout?
- Leads to arthritic pain
- Caused by an imbalance in uric acid in the body and can be aggravated by poor diet and high alcohol intake
Every day what is the approx. amount of blood the heart pumps?
7600 litres
What is high blood pressure linked to?
Heart disease
What is the leading cause of pilot incapacitation in flight?
Gastro-intestinal upsets caused by bacteria contamination of food and drink
What foods should you avoid to prevent stomach upset?
- Pre-prepared hot foods that are kept for long periods
- Seafood especially oysters and shellfish
- Creamy pastries, cakes, custards, or creamy sauce
What foods should you choose to prevent stomach upset?
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Salads
- Bread
- Hot freshly cooked meals
- Freshly opened canned food
What temperature is the human body most comfortable?
21-27 degrees Celcius with a relative humidity of 50%
Heat stress first occurs in environments above what temperature?
32 degrees
What effects are caused by heat stress?
- Tiredness
- Difficulty concentrating
How do you define heat exhaustion?
The circulatory system cannot compensate for blood vessels that have dilated to increase the flow of heat out of the body via the skin
What is a good antidote for heat stress?
Drinking water
What is the second type of heat stress?
- When your body has been exposed to too much sun prior to flight
- Have not consumed enough liquid
The effects of the second type of heat stress are much more difficult to notice however your symptoms may include:
- Lowered concentration
- Decline in decision-making
What is the third type of heat stress?
When the temperature drops below 10 degrees
What happens to your body when the temperature is very low?
Your body can lose more heat than it is able to produce
What symptoms are experienced when the temperature is too low?
- Shivering (A heat producer)
- Drowsiness
- Poor concentration
What is hypothermia?
When your body can no longer maintain core body temperature
Symptoms of hypothermia?
- Impairment of thinking
- Apathy
- Eventually unconsciousness and death
What is the most likely cause of hypothermia?
Long immersions in cold water or unprotected exposure to cold environmental temperatures
Best ways to deal with extreme temperatures?
- If its hot drink water and keep yourself protected by wear light loose-fitting clothing
- If it’s cold wear warm clothes, a number of layers of light clothes are much more effective than one large layer because the air between layers is a good insulator
When flying in extreme conditions what survival items should you bring?
- Warm: Plastic water bottles of water
- Cold: Warm clothes, matches, and high energy foods
Why do we become dehydrated at higher altitudes?
Because the air is much drier and a great deal of water can be lost
Why do pilots not usually notice they are losing water at altitudes?
Because their skin remains dry and they do not experience a sweaty feeling
What does dehydration lead to?
- Malfunction of almost every bodily function
- Emotional disturbances
- Irrational decision making
The solution to dehydration?
- Drink more water
* Not in the text but note to self you want electrolytes too… Think sugar and salt
Early symptoms of dehydration?
- Drying of the nasal passage
- Prickly sensation in eyes
What humidity are humans most comfortable at?
40-60%
How long should you wait after blood donation?
24 hours
- Giving blood can lead to tiredness and lowering of blood pressure
What cancers can smoking give you?
- Lungs
- Tongue
- Larynx
- Osophagus
- Pancreas
What effect does smoking have on heart attack risk?
- Increased by 100%
- High blood pressure or high cholesterol increase your risk by 200%
- Contraceptive pill and smoking increase your risk to 1000%
What effect does smoking have on stroke risk?
- Increased by 100%
What effect does smoking have on Gangrene risk?
- Increased by 500%
What effect does the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke have on the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity?
Reduces oxygen-carrying capacity and a smoker is effectively several thousand feet higher than his/ her actual level
Smokers brian suffer oxygen deprivation (Hypoxia) at a lower level
What are the initial symptoms of hypoxia?
- Reduced visual sensitivity
- Reduced mental alertness
What is the outer ear’s function?
- Collect sound waves
- Direct them to the eardrum
What is the eardrum?
- Membrane stretched tightly across the ear canal
- Separates the outer ear from the inner ear
What happens to the ear on climb?
- Outside pressure drops
- Eardrum begins to bulge outward
- Eustachian tube provides passage to allow air behind the eardrum to leak out into the nasal cavity to equalize the pressure on either side of the eardrum
What does the eustachian tube do?
- Provides passage to allow air behind the eardrum to leak out into the nasal cavity to equalize the pressure on either side of the eardrum
- Or opposite
What happens to the ear on the descent?
- Air pressure rises
- Eardrum bulges inwards
- Eustachian tube allows air to flow from the nasal cavity to the inside of the eardrum to equalize pressure
What happens when the Eustachian tube is blocked by mucus due to colds or flu?
- Air no longer flows freely along the passageway
- Unequal pressure causes the eardrum to stretch, causing severe pain and even rupture
Does airflow into or out of the Eustachian tube better?
Flows out much easier
Does the pressure equalize more easily on climb or descent?
Climb
What is barotrauma?
Pain associated with the pressure differences
What is vertigo?
Dizziness associated with ear’s balance mechanism
What is the Valsalva manouvre?
- Relieves discomfort of unequal pressure during descent
- Pinch nose and close mouth and blow gently
- Builds up pressure in the mouth and nasal cavity, this action forces air to enter the eustachian tube to increase pressure in the middle ear cavity
What are sinuses?
- Holes in the skull that reduce the weight of bone and provide resonance for the voice
What is the inside of each sinus lined with?
- Mucous membrane and is vented through the nasal cavity
During a cold or flu, what happens to the sinuses?
- Mucus membrane swells and blocks the ventilating action, this causes a build-up of pressure within the sinus cavity which can be greatly aggravated by changes in outside air pressure
What is hay fever?
- Triggered by an allergic reaction to airborne particles
- Causes irritation of nose, sinuses, and eyes causing them to swell, itch, and become runny
Hay fever medication can disqualify pilots from flying because of what?
- Antihistamines make you drowsy
What does CASR 67.265 specify?
- you must notify CASA or a DAME as soon as possible if you have any condition or injury and then must be cleared to fly again
What is the sign of aging; mostly in men?
- Deterioration in hearing especially high frequency
- Presbyopia
- Long-sightedness
In relation to pregnancy; when is fly operations suggested to stop?
- Around the 6-month mark
- Or when there is a restriction to the full and free operation of controls
What causes air sickness?
- Confusing or ambiguous signals arriving at the brain during a flight in turbulence
- Anxiety and stress increase the likelihood of airsickness
Symptoms of air sickness…
- Pale face
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
What can help manage airsickness symptoms?
- Cool fresh air on the face
- Looking at the horizon
- Being occupied with other thoughts or tasks
How to prevent airsickness for passengers?
- Fly as smoothly as possible
- Limit degree and rate of changes
Obesity can lead to….
- Hypertension
- Gout
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
On average how much water does your body lose a day?
- About a litre
How much water can the body lose on a hot day?
- As much as 5 litres
Too much salt leads to…
- Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Why shouldn’t you consume green leafy vegetables whilst flying?
- Release gas during digestion
- Can cause pain and discomfort in lower ambient pressure at high altitude
What can too little iron lead to?
Anemia
