Hypoxia
What is hypoxia?
Reduced or not enough oxygen.
What is rapid or excessively deep breathing?
A common way to induce hyperventilation.
What is the middle ear?
The "popping" of the ear with changes in altitude is caused by the release of pressure in this part of the ear.
What is dry ice?
CO2 could fill the cabin and starve your body of oxygen if this product is carried in the aircraft.
What is nitrogen?
Decompression sickness is associated with this gas causing bubbles in the body.
What are the four types of hypoxia?
Hypoxic, hypemic, stagnant, and histotoxic
What is adrenaline?
This hormone, when induced by pain, fear, or anxiety, may increase the breathing rate and contribute to hyperventilation.
What is the eustachian tube?
Swelling or mucus caused by the common cold can block this pathway, causing trapped air in the ear.
What is CO?
Small aircraft heaters that use the exhaust manifold as a heat source could allow this gas into the cabin.
What is 24 hours?
Pilots should wait this long after their last scuba dive prior to flying to minimize the risks of DCS.
What is 14,000 ft Pressure Altitude?
The altitude above which the FAA requires pilots use supplemental oxygen immediately.
What is CO2?
Hyperventilation causes too little of this gas to be in the bloodstream
What is the eardrum?
If not corrected, a pilot who descends with an ear blockage may rupture this membrane.
What is an explosion? [of the sealed container holding the dry ice]
Carrying dry ice in a sealed container could result in this type of event
What is the bends?
The type of DCS that occurs if bubbles of gas make their way to the joints.
What is hypemic hypoxia?
The condition in which hemoglobin cannot carry oxygen to the body, caused by carbon monoxide.
What is using supplemental oxygen?
After controlling breathing, this is the recommended corrective action if a pilot is unsure if the condition is hypoxia or hyperventilation
What is the sinus cavity?
A pilot flying with a head cold or similar ailment might feel pain behind the eyes or nose as the trapped air in this area reacts to changes in atmospheric pressure.
What is smoking?
This addictive habit can result in self-induced CO poisoning when smoke is inhaled, even secondhand.
What is the compressed air breathed during the dive?
The source of the gas that causes DCS after scuba diving.
What is the Time of Useful Consciousness (TUC)?
The maximum time a pilot has to make rational, life-saving decisions without supplemental oxygen
What is talking out loud?
The most common way to recover from hyperventilation, besides controlling breathing rate and breathing into a paper bag.
What is slow the descent, level off, or climb?
A pilot experiencing ear or sinus pain during a descent should consider doing this with the airplane to allow the ear or sinus pressures to stabilize before continuing.
What is carbon monoxide (CO)?
Due to the dangers of this gas, it is common for detectors to be placed in the aircraft cabin in view of the pilot.
What is a hyperbaric chamber?
A pilot who needs medical attention for DCS may be treated in this device, which enables doctors to control the atmospheric pressure.