NM Wing Civil Air PatrolJoseph R. Perea, MD, Major, CAPDirector of Safety

Factors which cause impairment of BRAIN function in some way

Increase risk OR CAUSE an accident or injury› Aircraft, vehicles, Cadets, Seniors

ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICAL / PHYSICAL LIFESTYLE / DIET

High Altitude Hypoxia (low oxygen)

SMOKING hypoxia

CARBON MONOXIDE

LOW BLOOD SUGAR

HIGH BLOOD SUGAR / DIABETES

SLEEP APNEA (STOP BREATHING)

ADRENALIN

MEDICATIONS

CAFFEINE

ALCOHOL

SMOKING

REACTIVE HYPOGLYCEMIA

EMOTIONS

HIGH ALTITUDE HYPOXIA

Cloudy thinking and judgment

Not recognized by the pilot

SOLUTIONUSE Oxygen at 12,500 ft MSL after 30 minutesOr lower Or sooner

Oxygen for all night flights OR smokers

Finger Pulse Oxymeter

CARBON MONOXIDE

Cloudy thinking and judgment, Headache, nausea

Not recognized by the pilot

SOLUTION

CO detector or card in every aircraft

SMOKER’S HYPOXIA

Cloudy thinking and judgment

Not recognized by the pilot

SOLUTION

Oxygen at 8,500? ft MSL after 30 minutesOr lower Or sooner

Oxygen for all night flights OR smokers

Finger Pulse Oxymeter

LOW BLOOD SUGAR› Coffee, donuts,

bearclaws, sugared-up coffee

› Pancakes and Syrup

SOLUTION:

ProteinEgg white sandwichPeanut butterTurkeyChickenSteak

SLEEP APNEA› Stop breathing

at night

› Awakening up to 200 times a night

› Daytime sleepiness causes accidents

SOLUTION:

Medical Evaluation – Sleep Study

Wear your CPAP mask

HIGH BLOOD SUGAR AND DIABETES

› Coffee, donuts, bearclaws, sugared up coffee

› Pancakes and Syrup

SOLUTION:

ProteinEgg white sandwichPeanut butterTurkeyChickenSteak

ADRENALIN

› Faulty judgment

› Loss of Focus

› Pounding heartrate

› Panic

SOLUTION:

PreparationTrainingPreparationTrainingPreparation

MEDICATIONS

› Rx or OTC

› Allergy, anti-depressants, sleeping pills, blood pressure

› Mental Impairment / “goofy” causes accidents

SOLUTION:

Know your medication Side-Effects

Only FAA approved meds for Aircrews. What about drivers?

CAFFEINE -- Not enough or Too much

› Sleepiness

› Tremor / shaking

› Low blood sugar

SOLUTION:

Have your java

Don’t have so much java

ALCOHOL

› Impairment

› Hangover / headache

› Withdrawl / shakiness

SOLUTION:

24 Hours from bottle to the throttle

Need a drink to relax? You need help

SMOKING

› Withdrawl, cigarette breaks disrupt work at hand

› Low oxygen at higher elevations or altitudes

SOLUTION:

Don’t

New Medications to help quit

LACK OF SLEEP

Going to bed late, fatigue

SLEEP APNEA

Daytime sleepiness causes accidents

SOLUTION:

Go to bed early!

See your Doctor for a Sleep Study

Duty Day Limitations

Factors which cause impairment of BRAIN function in some way

Increase risk OR CAUSE an accident or injury› Aircraft, vehicles, Cadets, Seniors

ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICAL / PHYSICAL LIFESTYLE / DIET