Aviat Space Envir Md
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Mar 1995
Vibration and noise in pediatric emergency transport vehicles: a potential cause of morbidity?
Noise and vibration are stressors that may adversely affect the well-being of infants and children being transported between facilities. Although the problem has been recognized, little has been done to rectify the situation. ⋯ Noise and vibration levels inside transport incubators in our most-commonly used transport vehicles often exceed the recommended limits. For neurologically immature and/or physiologically compromised infants and children, current levels of n/v in transport vehicles are too high, and could affect patient morbidity. These n/v levels require further study, and modification of equipment, primarily the incubators, is overdue.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Feb 1995
Symptoms of infection and altitude illness among hikers in the Mount Everest region of Nepal.
Symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and infection were recorded daily in 283 hikers walking the Mount Everest base camp trek in the Nepal Himalaya. Some 57% of subjects developed AMS, and 87% experienced at least one symptom of infection during the study period. Coryza (75%), cough (42%), sore throat (39%), and diarrhea (36%) were especially prevalent. ⋯ The incidence of AMS was greater among those with more symptoms of infection (p = 0.00004), and the number of symptoms of infection experienced with positively correlated with AMS score (rs = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.33 to 0.52). These results suggest that symptoms of infection are common at high altitude and are associated with a higher incidence of AMS. People with infections should ascend at a slower rate at high altitude.
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Flight surgeons establish a unique rapport with pilots which promotes effective communication between doctor and patient. Social contacts between pilots and flight surgeon occur in many different settings, both formal and informal. ⋯ The informal associations that occur in the pilot's work areas, and the formal interactions that occur at safety briefings, are the most important encounters for establishing good rapport. The contacts in the flight surgeon's office are the least important encounters in establishing rapport.
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This paper reviews the ejection experience of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) between 1951 and 1992. During this period 84 aircrew ejected from their aircraft, with 77 survivors and 7 fatalities. The causes of these ejections were examined, and the injuries received by the ejectees were classified into four categories: fatal, major, minor, and no injuries. ⋯ Most ejectees received at least one minor injury. There were 7 reported cases in which the ejectee received no injuries. The RAAF ejection experience was found to be comparable with other international series, both in terms of survival rates and injury patterns.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Jan 1995
Prediction of the intensity of patient care in prehospital helicopter transport: use of the revised trauma score.
Off-line prediction of the care to be provided to prehospital patients is inherently difficult. The Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS) score has proved useful for evaluating the degree of care provided to patients in intensive care settings, and may have prehospital application. ⋯ Statistically significant Spearman rank order correlation coefficients were noted between RTS, GCS, and TISS in patients suffering from both traumatic and non-traumatic illness. The RTS and the GCS may be used as a guide to the degree of prehospital care that may be provided to victims of medical illness or trauma by helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) systems.