NM Wing Civil Air Patrol Joseph R. Perea, MD, Major, CAP Director of Safety

 Factors which cause impairment of BRAIN function in some way  Increase risk OR CAUSE an accident or injury › Aircraft, vehicles, Cadets, Seniors  ENVIRONMENTAL  MEDICAL / PHYSICAL  LIFESTYLE / DIET

 High Altitude Hypoxia (low oxygen)  SMOKING hypoxia  CARBON MONOXIDE

 LOW BLOOD SUGAR  HIGH BLOOD SUGAR / DIABETES  SLEEP APNEA (STOP BREATHING)  ADRENALIN  MEDICATIONS

 CAFFEINE  ALCOHOL  SMOKING  REACTIVE HYPOGLYCEMIA  EMOTIONS

 HIGH ALTITUDE HYPOXIA  Cloudy thinking and judgment  Not recognized by the pilot SOLUTION USE Oxygen at 12,500 ft MSL after 30 minutes Or lower Or sooner Oxygen for all night flights OR smokers Finger Pulse Oxymeter

 CARBON MONOXIDE  Cloudy thinking and judgment, Headache, nausea  Not recognized by the pilot SOLUTION CO detector or card in every aircraft

 SMOKER’S HYPOXIA  Cloudy thinking and judgment  Not recognized by the pilot SOLUTION Oxygen at 8,500? ft MSL after 30 minutes Or lower Or sooner Oxygen for all night flights OR smokers Finger Pulse Oxymeter

 LOW BLOOD SUGAR › Coffee, donuts, bearclaws, sugared-up coffee › Pancakes and Syrup SOLUTION: Protein Egg white sandwich Peanut butter Turkey Chicken Steak

 SLEEP APNEA › Stop breathing at night › Awakening up to 200 times a night › Daytime sleepiness causes accidents SOLUTION: Medical Evaluation – Sleep Study Wear your CPAP mask

 HIGH BLOOD SUGAR AND DIABETES › Coffee, donuts, bearclaws, sugared up coffee › Pancakes and Syrup SOLUTION: Protein Egg white sandwich Peanut butter Turkey Chicken Steak

 ADRENALIN › Faulty judgment › Loss of Focus › Pounding heartrate › Panic SOLUTION: Preparation Training Preparation Training Preparation

 MEDICATIONS › Rx or OTC › Allergy, anti- depressants, sleeping pills, blood pressure › Mental Impairment / “goofy” causes accidents SOLUTION: Know your medication Side- Effects Only FAA approved meds for Aircrews. What about drivers?

 CAFFEINE -- Not enough or Too much › Sleepiness › Tremor / shaking › Low blood sugar SOLUTION: Have your java Don’t have so much java

 ALCOHOL › Impairment › Hangover / headache › Withdrawl / shakiness SOLUTION: 24 Hours from bottle to the throttle Need a drink to relax? You need help

 SMOKING › Withdrawl, cigarette breaks disrupt work at hand › Low oxygen at higher elevations or altitudes SOLUTION: Don’t New Medications to help quit

 LACK OF SLEEP  Going to bed late, fatigue  SLEEP APNEA  Daytime sleepiness causes accidents SOLUTION: Go to bed early! See your Doctor for a Sleep Study Duty Day Limitations

 Factors which cause impairment of BRAIN function in some way  Increase risk OR CAUSE an accident or injury › Aircraft, vehicles, Cadets, Seniors  ENVIRONMENTAL  MEDICAL / PHYSICAL  LIFESTYLE / DIET