Aviat Space Envir Md
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Jun 1986
Biography Historical ArticleStrategic aeromedical evacuation: the inaugural flight.
Strategic aeromedical evacuation, a vital subsystem of the overall aeromedical airlift system, had its beginning in a confidential, poorly planned, poorly coordinated Air Transport Command flight from Karachi, Pakistan (then part of India) to Washington, DC, in January 1943. That the flight was successfully completed was due in large measure to the untiring efforts of the nurse, Second Lieutenant Elsie S. Ott, aboard the flight. ⋯ Largely through Lt. Ott's efforts, long range aeromedical evacuation was demonstrated to be a practicable method of transportation for seriously ill and wounded patients. A new dimension had been added to the overall aeromedical airlift mission.
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Central hemodynamics have been determined during stepwise decreasing LBP in head-down tilt (HDT) of -6 degrees. Measurements were performed on eight healthy volunteers using right heart catheterization. During LBNP, pressures in the right atrium, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary capillary (preload) decreased in parallel with the increase of negative pressure applied to the lower part of the body. ⋯ There was a very close correlation between stroke volume determined by thermodilution and by echocardiography. Plasma norepinephrine and dopamine tended to increase at the end of LBNP. Echocardiography proved a useful and reliable approach to hemodynamic measurement during LBNP and is recommended for analysis of hemodynamic parameters during zero G and Gz simulation.
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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 · Jul 1985
Will they fly again? The probability of wounded military aviators returning to flying duty: a study of 70 cases.
In this study, 70 Israeli Air Force aviators, most of them suffering from severe or moderately-severe injuries, were evaluated as to their potential to return to active flying duty. Of these, 59 (84%) were able to return to flying and 11 (16%) were permanently grounded. While 44 of 51 fighter aviators (86%) returned to flying, only 30 of them (59%) returned to fly fighters, and the rest were transferred to another type of aircraft. ⋯ In each case a single injury could be demonstrated as the direct cause of their permanent grounding. All aviators were followed-up for 3 years after having returned to flying. It was concluded that an evaluation period of 2 years is sufficient to determine the long-term success of military aviators returning to flying.
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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.