Module 4 Fitness & Health

1. Module 4Fitness & Health

2. Objective • To determine how fitness & health impacts on performance and to establish measures for a healthy lifestyle which will support optimum professional performance

3. What is fitness & health ? A B

4. Defining Fitness & Health • Fitness can be described as a condition that enables us to perform up to our potential, it helps us look, feel and do our best • It allows us to endure, and withstand stress, to carry on in circumstances where an unfit person could not continue, and it is a major basis for good health and well-being • Physical fitness involves the performance of the heart, lungs and the muscles of the body. And, since what we do with our bodies also affects what we can do with our minds, fitness influences to some degree qualities such as mental alertness and emotional stability

5. Going Sick! • Some crew members may be reluctant to call in sick. WHY? • Letting colleagues down • Other recent absenteeism • Temporary members of staff who feel it may affect the decision regarding a permanent contract at the end of the season

6. Conditions impacting on the health & fitness of an individual • Minor physical illness • colds, ‘flu, etc. • More major physical illness • cancer, malaria, etc. • Mental illness • depression, etc. • Minor injury • sprained wrist, pulled back muscle, etc. • Major injury • broken arm, etc. • Ongoing deterioration in physical condition, associated with ageing • hearing loss, visual defects, obesity, heart problems, etc. • Affects of toxins and other foreign substances • carbon monoxide poisoning, alcohol, illicit drugs, etc. • Lifestyle • stress, sleep, diet, lack of exercise etc

7. Positive measures for a healthy lifestyle • Take a few minutes to list as many measures as you can for a healthy lifestyle

8. Diving & Flying • Air under pressure while diving increases the qty of nitrogen in solution in the body. • Ascent from a dive causes nitrogen to come out of solution & form bubbles at different parts of the body creating pain. (decompression sickness - bends, creeps, chokes) • Even you feel fine on the ground, the further decompression associated with flight at altitude may be sufficient to bring on an attack. Do not fly within:12 hrs after diving to a depth < 10 mtrs24 hrs after diving to a depth > 10 mtrs

9. Hypoxia

10. Signs and Symptoms of Hypoxia • Personality Change • Impaired Judgement • Muscle Impairment • Memory Impairment • Impairment of sensory functions • Difficulty in respiration • Impairment of consciousness

11. Hypoxia - TUC

12. Factors affecting susceptibility to Hypoxia • Rate of ascent to altitude • Time • Exercise • Cold • Illness • Fatigue • Drugs and alcohol • Smoking • Age

13. Alcohol

14. Aircrew regulations - Alcohol EU Ops 1.085 and CAA regulations state that: • No alcohol shall be consumes less than 8 hours prior to the specified reporting time for flight duty or the commencement of standby • The blood alcohol level shall not exceed 0.2 promille at the start of a flight duty period • No alcohol shall be consumed during the flight duty period or whilst on standby • Operators are to issue instructions for crews as to their personal responsibilities including clear guidance on abstention from alcoholic drinks for a suitable period prior to duty

15. Alcohol is a drug

16. Police Drink/Drive Test

17. Medication

18. Medication – Side Effects (1) • Analgesics - For pain relief • Minimal side effects, however something is wrong with health! • Anti-histamines - For allergies and hay fever • Side effects inc. drowsiness and dizziness. Some individuals say they experience no effect, however, when tested scientifically an adverse change reaction of judgement has been found. • In a number of fatal accidents, traces of antihistamines have been found during the post-mortem of the pilot.

19. Medication – Side Effects (2) • Antibiotics - To combat infection • Minimal side effects, however something is wrong with health! • Cough suppressants • Some contain anti-histamine – caution advised • Decongestants • May contain pseudo-ephedrine hydrochloride (e.g. ‘Sudafed’) and phenylphrine. Side-effects inc. anxiety, tremor, rapid pulse and headache.

20. Medication – Side Effects (3) • Anti-diarrhoea tablets • Can induce double vision – carry out a trial first • Anti-malaria precautions • Should always be taken if in risk area but consult your doctor as some cause unpleasant side effects including nausea, headaches and psychosis. • Eg. Lariam can cause psychiatric side effects inc. mood or behaviour changes, anxiety, depression, feelings of persecution, crying, aggression, forgetfulness, agitation, confusion or hallucinations. This medicine can impair your mental or physical ability to perform safely

21. Medication – Side Effects (4) • Stimulants & Appetite suppressants • Increase heart rate & can create overconfidence. Their use can be habit forming. Excessive use may cause headaches, dizziness and mental disturbances • Tranquillizers, anti-depressants & sedatives • Cause dulling of the senses, drowsiness and reduced performance - Absolutely NO • Sleeping tablets • Often anti-histamine based, they slow reaction times and dull the senses.

22. Medication – Side Effects (5) • Melatonin - Sleep & jet lag aid. • Melatonin will cause sleepiness and impair performance immediately after ingestion the after-effects could be detrimental to operational efficiency • Inappropriate timing of taking this compound can cause disturbed sleep and undesirable shifts in circadian rhythms. Some users experience nightmares, morning grogginess, mild depression, nausea and genital pain • UK CAA advice is to avoid

23. I’M SAFE • Illness • Medication • Stress • Alcohol • Fatigue • Emotions

24. Questions

25. Global House, Worley CourtBolesworth Road, TattenhallCheshire, CH3 9HLUnited Kingdom Tel + 44 (0) 1829 771 334 Web: www.globalaviation.comEmail: ops@globalaviation.com