Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Aeromedical Knowledge
Health and Physiological Factors Affecting Pilot Performance
34
Aviation
Professional
04/22/2013

Additional Aviation Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is hypoxia?
Definition
A state of oxygen deficiency in the body sufficient to impair the function of the brain and other organs.
Term
What are the four types of hypoxia?
Definition
  • Hypoxic - Affects body as whole: reduced partial pressure of oxygen at altitude
  • Hypemic - Blood unable to transport oxygen: smoking, bleeding or anemic factors, CO poisoning, blood donation
  • Stagnant - Lack of flow (ischemia): heart issues, G forces, cold temps
  • Histotoxic - Cells cannot use oxygen: alcohol, drugs, poisons (1 oz alcohol is 2000 ft)
Term
What are the symptoms of hypoxia?
Definition
  • Euphoria, carefree feeling
  • Cyanosis (blue fingernails)
  • Headache
  • Impaired judgement
  • Visual impairment
  • Drowsiness
  • Lightheaded, dizzy
  • Tingling in fingers and toes
  • Numbness
Term
What is hyperventilation
Definition
Excessive rate and depth of respiration leading to abnormal loss of CO2 from blood
Term
What are the symptoms of hyperventilation?
Definition
  • Visual impairment
  • Unconsciousness
  • Lightheaded dizzy
  • Tingling sensations
  • Hot and cold sensations
  • Muscle spasms
Term
When is the use of supplemental oxygen required?
Definition
  • Crew: 12,500 to 14,000 if longer than 30 minutes, always 14,000 and above
  • Passengers: 15,000 and above
  • Recommended 10,000 and above for everyone, 8,000 and above at night for crfew
Term
What precautions should be taken before flight if your passengers have been involved in recent scuba diving activity?
Definition
  • Wait 12 hours if 8,000 ft or lower and no decompression stop required during dive
  • Wait 24 hours if 8,000 ft or higher or if a decompression stop was required during the dive
  • Excessive nitrogen absorbed during dive can embolize at high altitudes (reduced pressures) and cause the "bends" (Decompression Sickness or "DCS")
Term
What action should be taken if a pilot suspects carbon monoxide poisoning?
Definition
  • Immediately shut off the heater
  • Open all outside air vents (including "eyeball" vents)
  • If significant impairment suspected, land and seek medical attention
Term
What symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning should a pilot be alert for?
Definition
  • Headache
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Cyanosis (blue fingernails)
Term
How does carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning occur?
Definition
Exhaust fumes escaping through manifold cracks into the heating system. Or in a Janitrol type system, a leaking heat exchanger allows combustion products to leak into the air being heated
Term
What is carbon monoxide (CO) and how does it poison?
Definition
  • Colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas found in exhaust fumes
  • Significantly reduces ability to blood to transport oxygen (ties up the hemoglobin molecules)
  • Effects of hypoxia occur
Term
What regulations apply, and what common sense should prevail concerning the use of alcohol?
Definition
  • Eight hours bottle to throttle
  • Under the influence (?? impaired ??)
  • Below .040 BAC (this seems high!)
  • Excellent rule is 12 to 24 hours
Term
What action whould be taken if a pilot of passenger suffers from motion sickness?
Definition
  • Open the air vents
  • Loosen clothing
  • Use supplemental oxygen
  • Focus outside aircraft
  • Avoid unnecessary head movements
  • Abandon flight and land ASAP if severe
Term
What are the symptoms of motion sickness?
Definition
  • Nausea and disorientation
  • Desire for food is lost
  • Saliva collects in mouth, maybe drooling
  • Begins to perspire freely (diaphoretic)
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Pilot may become incapacitated!
Term
What is the cause of motion sickness?
Definition
When the inner ear, the eyes, and other areas of the body that detect motion send unexpected or conflicting messages to the brain
Term
What is spatial disorientation?
Definition

The inability to correctly interpret aircraft attitude, altitude, or airspeed in relation to the Earth or point of reference.

 

http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/SpatialD.pdf

Term
What causes spatial disorientation?
Definition
Discrepancies between visual (eyes), vestibular (inner ear), and postural (nerves, joints, muscles) senses can cause illusions and spatial disorientation.
Term
What is vertigo?
Definition
A sensation of whirling and loss of balance.
Term
How can hypoxia be avoided?
Definition
  • Use of supplemental oxygen above 10,000 ft or above 5,000 ft at night.
  • Heeding factors that reduce tolerance to altitude
Term
What causes vertigo in healthy pilots?
Definition
Inner ear (vestibular canals) send incorrect spatial information to the brain causing loss of balance. More susceptible when no visual reference (night or IMC).
Term
What causes ear block and under what conditions is it most common?
Definition
  • Eustachian tube blocked so cannot equalize pressure between outside and inner ear
  • More common in descent or increasing cabin pressure because air must flow into the inner ear
Term
How is ear block normally prevented?
Definition
  • Swallowing
  • Yawning
  • Valsalva maneuver (often more effective)
  • Avoid flight with upper respiratory or nasal allergies or infections
Term
What is hyperventilation?
Definition

Abnormal increase in volume of air being breathed, causing a significant decrease in the carbon dioxide content of the blood. 

Term
What is the most common cause of hyperventilation in a healty pilot?
Definition
Stress or panic
Term
What are the symptoms of hyperventilation?
Definition
  • Lightheadedness
  • Tingling
  • Coolness
  • Disorientation
  • Suffocation
  • Muscle spasms
  • Unconsciousness
Term
How can a hyperventilating condition be reversed?
Definition
  • Bring breathing back under control - relax 
  • Controlled breathing in and out with a paper bag held over nose and mouth
Term
What factors can make a pilot more susceptible to hypoxia?
Definition
  • Smoking (CO inhalation)
  • Anemia (lowered hemoglobin)
  • Some medications (??)
  • Alcohol, even small amounts!
  • Sedatives, even low doses!
  • Undiagnosed heart problems (e.g. bradycardia)
Term
Where does hypoxia occur, and what symptoms should one expect?
Definition
  • Onset from 12,000 to 15,000 feet
  • Impairs judgement, memory, coordination, multi-tasking, and ability to make calculations
  • Can cause drowsiness, euphoria, even belligerence (I have seen all of these!)
Term
What are several factors which may contribute to impairment of a pilot's performance?
Definition

IMSAFE

Illness

Medication

Stress

Alcohol

Fatigue

Emotion

Term
Are there any over the counter medications that could be connsidered safe to use while flying?
Definition
No; pilot performance can be seriously degraded by medications taken.
Term
Are flight crewmembers allowed to use any medications while performing required duties?
Definition
FAR prohibits use of any medication that affects the faculties in any way unless specifically approved by FAA.
Term
What regulations apply to medical certification?
Definition

Part 67

Medical Standards and Certification

Term
What is the "sterile cockpit"concept
Definition
Cockpit conversation restricted to operationally pertinent topics only.
Term
What is IMSAFE?
Definition
  • Illness
  • Medications
  • Stress
  • Alcohol
  • Fatigue
  • Eating
Supporting users have an ad free experience!