Aeromedical

1
Aeromedical

• An Introduction

2
Pressure effects

• Ear and sinus
• What is the cause?
• How do we correct?
• Toothache
• Gastrointestinal
• Scuba- requirements?

3
Other Aeromedical factors

• Motion sickness
• Causes?
• Cure?
• Stress
• Causes?
• Bodily reactions?
• Good or Bad?

4
Aeromedical Ctn.

• Fatigue
• Causes- low sleep, exercise, exertion
• noise, heavy cognitive activity
• Noise- leads to fatigue, stress, and airsickness
• More than 5 hours a week without ear
  protection significant haring loss in a few
  short years (tenitis)

5
Alcohol and Drugs

• Depressants- stomach medication, (incl. motion
  sickness) decongestants, allergy medication,
• Alcohol- most widely abused drug, and is
  absorbed directly into bloodstream

6
Alcohol ctn.

• Absorption rate and amount determines level of
  impairment and is determined by
• of alcohol in drink
• consumption rate
• food eaten
• body mass
• length of time spent drinking

7
Alcohol ctn.

• FARs require
• 8 hours between consumption and flying
• .04 BAC
• Most airlines require a 24 hour period between
  alcohol and flying
• Even a .01 BAC produces imparement

8
Alcohol ctn.

• Hangover effects can last 24 hours past heavy
  consumption

9
Pain Killers

• Over the counter pain killers are generally O.K.
  (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen etc.) unless
  there is an allergy
• Prescription pain killers are almost always a
  no-go item (ask your DME)

10
Stimulants

• Stimulate the central nervous system
• Examples caffeine, nicotine, appetite
  suppressants, fatigue reduction (no-doz)
• Can produce anxiety and mood swings
• Avoid when flying!

11
Other drugs

• Drugs and herbals (antibiotics, st. johns wart
  etc.) not included in the previous can produce
  adverse effects on flight performance so check
  with your DME before flying.
• Illicit drugs- avoid altogether, airlines can
  trace 7 years past with hair samples

12
Exercise

• Get habits started early
• Effects of delaying exercise wont be realized
  immediately but years later
• Smoking- Dont start or quit

13
Aeromedical ctn.

• If your fitness for flight is ever in question,
  ground yourself- its required by the FARs

14
Questions?