Aviat Space Envir Md
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Ejection on or near the ground appears potentially injurious, especially since the survival rate decreases as altitude of ejection decreases. Ejection data from 1973 through 1985 were reviewed to analyze whether ground-level take-off and landing ejections posed an increased risk of injury or death. This review included only ejections clearly requiring a decision between ground egress and ejection. ⋯ Ejection during take-off and landing phases is as safe as ejection above 500 ft. safer than other ejections below 500 ft, and does not result in excess injury rates. Ejection systems are sometimes damaged by impact or fire. In the emergencies considered, ejection offered greatly increased chances for survival over ground egress.
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A device was constructed which allowed subatomospheric pressures of up to -50 mm Hg to be applied to the neck, or to the head plus neck, of volunteer subjects riding on the USAFSAM centrifuge. Breathing pressures were always atmospheric. ⋯ Neck suction of -50 mm Hg induced less bradycardia when applied at +3 Gz than under 1-G conditions. These results were discussed in relation to intraocular tension, baroreceptor responsiveness, and jugular venous siphon effect.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Aug 1987
Comparative StudyAirline pilot medical disability: a comparison between three airlines with different approaches to medical monitoring.
To study the impact of airline medical departments on pilot disability, three major U. S. airlines, nominally airlines A, B, and C, were chosen because they had distinctly different medical programs. Airline A provided essentially no medical review. ⋯ For pilots 45 years old or older, the age-specific disability rates in airline A were significantly higher than those in airlines B and C; rates for airlines B and C were not significantly different. The data suggest that airlines with active medical departments have lower pilot medical disability rates than do airlines without such departments. Data also suggest that preemployment screening and assessment of individual disability claims are more important determinants of long-term disability rates than are regular (annual) pilot health reviews.
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Twenty years of treatment records were searched for cases of serious decompression sickness (DCS). Spinal cord DCS was the most common presentation. ⋯ Using RN 61 (USN 5) to treat serious decompression sickness resulted in a high post-treatment relapse rate. Other inappropriate practices such as in-water air treatment and nontreatment of spontaneously recovering cases resulted in a high incidence of deterioration or relapse.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Mar 1987
Historical ArticleReported in-flight incapacitation: the early birds of 1911.
Numerous fatal accidents marred the early years of aviation, but not until 1911 was the first accident attributed to inflight incapacitation of the pilot. Two such accidents occurred in 1911 and were reported due to medical causes. ⋯ We believe them to have been caused by pilot error, and not by medical causes. So the first accident due to inflight incapacitation of the aircrew for medical reasons still remains unknown.