Aviat Space Envir Md
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Jun 2013
Stress reactivity and cognitive performance in a simulated firefighting emergency.
During emergencies maladaptive behavior can reduce survival. This study compared the effects of a basic firefighter training course on 21 volunteers (with no firefighting experience) with age and gender-matched controls. ⋯ Cognitive impairments were found following a simulated emergency and could explain maladaptive responses observed during real fires. Moreover, the results suggest the type of cognitive impairments observed may be time dependent, with different cognitive difficulties becoming evident at different times following an emergency.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · May 2013
ReviewVehicle submersion: a review of the problem, associated risks, and survival information.
Of all drownings, 3 to 11% occur in submersed vehicles, yet scientific study of this topic seems limited. ⋯ Prevention includes installing adequate guardrails, barriers, warning signs, and road markings, or placing roadways at a greater distance from water. Areas at high risk for flooding should have signs and public warning systems for flash flooding should be improved. Public education should also focus on the dangers of driving on flooded roads or bridges, and on ice roads.
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In-flight medical emergencies are difficult to manage and medical volunteers can be valuable when these events occur. The study objective was to examine the role of medical volunteers in medical emergencies which resulted in medical flight diversions. ⋯ Medical volunteers presented more often for more serious events, and may be due to the airline medical incident policy and medical legal concerns for volunteers. This study identified measures which may reduce medical diversions, including cabin crew training for stroke screening, and promote the use of the Medical Information Form (MEDIF) and indemnity forms. Recommendations for medical diversion may require more specialized training than is currently given in undergraduate medical courses, and may benefit from better communication with ground-based medical advice services.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Mar 2013
Particulate deposition in the human lung under lunar habitat conditions.
Lunar dust may be a toxic challenge to astronauts. While deposition in reduced gravity is less than in normal gravity (1 G), reduced gravitational sedimentation causes particles to penetrate deeper in the lung, potentially causing more harm. The likely design of the lunar habitat has a reduced pressure environment and low-density gas has been shown to reduce upper airway deposition and increase peripheral deposition. ⋯ While minimally affected by gas density, deposition was significantly less in microgravity than in 1 G for both gases, with a larger portion of particles depositing in the lung periphery under lunar conditions than Earth conditions. Thus, gravity, and not gas properties, mainly affects deposition in the peripheral lung, suggesting that studies of aerosol transport in the lunar habitat need not be performed at the low density proposed for the atmosphere in that environment.