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Even
though you are a good pilot....
Do you routinely
make poor landings at the end of a long flight and wonder
why? Do you or your passengers have a low grade headache or
some achiness or stiffness following a flight? Does anyone
feel generally fatigued or even grumpy? Did you make a decision
which you could not justify at a later date? It is not
just from sitting a long time, being bored or tense.
Nonin
FlightStat Pulse Oximeter
Check
for in-flight hypoxia by monitoring your blood oxygen
saturation and pulse rate with the FlightStat Pulse
Oximeter. FlightStat is the only aviation-specific
pulse oximeter available today and does not require
a prescription! The compact, self-contained unit slips
onto your finger and within seconds displays reliable
data. FlightStat provides 18 hours of measurement
time (1600 - 40 sec. checks) and is powered by two
AAA batteries.
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At altitude,
our bodies experience many weird things because oxygen fed
to our tissues is changing in volume. Each person will respond
differently to these oxygen changes, however, depending in
part on factors that are often self-induced. Put these on
your checklist:
- Caffeine
ingestion (anyone drink coffee, sodas, etc.?)
- Inadequate
nutrition (did anyone skip breakfast?)
- Inadequate
Sleep (anyone stay up late last night?)
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- Use
of drugs (legal or otherwise?)
- Tobacco
use (smoking cigarettes or anything else?)
- Alcohol
use (anyone drink last night?)
- Is
anyone's lifestyle basically sedentary,
inactive?
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| Any
of these contributing factors (no matter what your age,
or at what altitude you live!) creates the need for supplemental
oxygen, and at lower altitudes. There are however, other
concerns for the Pilot in Command regarding factors beyond
our control: |
- Are
you or your passengers female?
- Are
you or your passengers older?
- Are
you or your passengers breathing any exhaust fumes?
- Are
your passengers nervous?
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- Is
the flight hard IFR?
- Is
the weather change unexpected?
- Is
it night time? (at only 5000 ft, you are
25% blind!)
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RECOMMENDATIONS:
At night, oxygen delivery should begin at 5,000 ft.for everyone
on board! During daylight hours, delivery should begin for all
at 8,000 ft.. Learn to use oxygen routinely, and
not just for emergencies or after impairment sets in! The longer
the flight, the more important these recommendations become. Arrive
fresh and ready for your business or pleasure. Your performance
will be assured. ENJOY!!
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Note:
For a heavy smoker, or the very elderly, or with those
whose life is extremely sedentary, or replete with self-induce
factors, oxygen delivery should begin at 4, 000 ft., with
a mask, not a cannula!
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