Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R L DeHart.
Decompression sickness is not an appreciated hazard among the private pilot community. This is of growing concern with the increasing number of nonpressurized aircraft capable of flying to altitudes in excess of 5,468 m (18,000 ft). A case report is presented of a 42-year-old pilot who apparently experienced decompression sickness at flight level 250 which went unrecognized until several months after the incident.
Each year in the United States physicians write more than 1.5 billion prescriptions for their patients. Considering this scope of drug ingestion it seems safe to assume that medication is taken by some people while they are at work. The therapeutic effects or adverse reactions of drugs may compromise safety in the workplace. Furthermore, the conditions of the job or work environment may adversely alter the expected pharmacokinetics of some agents.
Although aviation medical support to flight deck crews and cabin staff has been the subject of numerous articles, information about occupational medical support to ground crews, maintenance personnel, and other behind-the-lines personnel who help to "keep them flying" has rarely been presented. This report discusses the occupational medical support provided by six major U.S. international air carriers. Each carrier arranges for medical support of employees through a variety of health care systems, ranging from an airline medical department to total use of contract medical services. Approximately 70% of the airline personnel are non-flying and consequently come under the provisions of classical occupational medical services. Further, many of the flying personnel who may have sustained injuries or illnesses as a result of their aviation occupation also are managed in classical occupational medicine terms. Several airline medical directors interviewed estimate that 65% or more of their professional time is concerned with classical occupational medicine activities rather than aviation medicine programs as usually defined. A major challenge to international air carriers is the numerous jurisdictional arenas concerned with workers' compensation regulations and law under which they operate.
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High-elevation airfields are available to commercial and military aviation. Rapid ascent to locations at high elevations may result in symptoms of altitude sickness in aircrew, support personnel, and passengers. In the United States there are 302 airfields at altitudes in excess of 1,524 m (5,000 ft); in other areas of the world, field elevations can exceed 4,267 m. The symptom complex which may occur at altitude is reviewed and recommendations are offered to prevent, ameliorate, or manage the symptoms.
Aircrew selection and health maintenance are key factors in the Aviation Medicine Program of the Royal Australian Air Force. The physical standards employed by the RAAF in selecting aircrew are reviewed. The aircrew selection process for the 5 years 1969 to 1973 are presented with emphasis given to medical causes for rejection. A careful analysis of reasons for failure to complete aircrew training was conducted. The results of this analysis are presented with special emphasis being given to medical wastage. The process of medical evaluation of trained aircrew is discussed along with the 1969-1973 experience with aircrew duty restrictions and waivers granted for medical conditions. The RAAF experience with medical wastage of trained aircrew is similar to the experience of other nations, both as to wastage rates and body systems involved.
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