Aviat Space Envir Md
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Feb 1986
Comparative StudyNoise levels in cockpits of aircraft during normal cruise and considerations of auditory risk.
Noise data, including A-levels and C-minus-A values, are summarized for exposures associated with normal cruise flight in 13 groups of 593 aircraft; means and standard deviations are reported; degrees of auditory risk using OSHA-1983 criterion are presented; and at-the-ear protected and unprotected exposures are revealed. Mean A-levels were 95.0 for 528 fixed-wing; 100.9 for 65 rotary-wing; and 95.7 for all 593 aircraft. Of 13 sub-groups, the lowest mean A-level (85.5) was exhibited in the cockpits of tail-mounted turbojet/fan-powered aircraft, and the highest (105.0) was found in both reciprocating and turbine-powered twin-rotor helicopters. ⋯ Results clearly illustrate the potential for auditory damage of unprotected aircrews. Hearing protection must be considered to effectively control routinely encountered exposures. The material and illustrations resulting from this study will help health and safety monitors during indoctrination and counseling of aircrews concerning the need to protect their hearing against noise exposures during normal and routine flight operations.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Jun 1985
Otolith tilt-translation reinterpretation following prolonged weightlessness: implications for preflight training.
Observations with three astronauts yielded two major findings. First, perceived self-motion during sinusoidal roll differed immediately postflight from preflight. ⋯ These results support an "otolith tilt-translation reinterpretation" hypothesis, which has clear implications for understanding astronaut reports of space motion sickness during the early period of orbital flight. A proposal for "prophylactic adaptation training" which may provide preflight adaptation to weightlessness, derives from this research.
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To identify and characterize civilian air ambulance services, a questionnaire was mailed nationwide to 583 prospective air ambulance services, with 154 responding. Our survey identified differences between hospital, hospital-affiliated, and private air ambulance services as to aircraft ownership, availability, types of aircraft, types of patients being transported, types of medical personnel and equipment, aircraft retrofit, and their feelings regarding air ambulance regulations. ⋯ Based upon this data, we recommend that air ambulance regulations be directed at levels of patient care. Such regulations and guidelines will assist patient safety during aeromedical transports without jeopardizing currently operating air ambulance services.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Jun 1985
Transderm scopolamine efficacy related to time of application prior to the onset of motion.
We evaluated Transdermal Scopolamine related to the time of application prior to the onset of motion. In this study 44 subjects participated. ⋯ Therefore, the transdermal scopolamine system should be applied at least 8 h before potentially disturbing motion to provide adequate prophylaxis against motion sickness. We found no significant difference in motion sickness susceptibility between men and women, in contrast to earlier reports.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · May 1985
Case ReportsThe airline passenger undergoing withdrawal or overdose from narcotics or other drugs.
Inflight passenger problems associated with withdrawal or overdose from narcotics or other drugs have been assessed. The specific categories of common drugs of abuse covered are: opiates, amphetamines and cocaine, central nervous system depressants, marijuana, phencyclidine, LSD and mescaline, and peyote. ⋯ Relatively recent newspaper accounts of inflight disturbances related to abuse substances have highlighted the problem. Some case histories are given by the authors along with recommendations for methods of dealing with these problems.