Sat, Aug 26, 2006
Aero-Tips!
A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard
this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer
statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of
"there are no old, bold pilots.")
Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner,
master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us
-- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you
may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be
something we might never have considered before, or something that
didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized
it for the practical test.
Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you
through the Aero-News Network.
Aero-Tips 08.25.06
We generally think of too much carbon dioxide (CO2) is a bad
thing. But too little carbon dioxide can be just as
deadly.
Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation is an abnormal increase in the volume of air
breathed in and out of the lungs, and usually occurs in a stressful
situation. Hyperventilation "blows off" excessive carbon
dioxide from the body. A pilot can experience symptoms of
lightheadedness, suffocation, drowsiness, tingling in the
extremities, and coolness…and then react with even greater
hyperventilation. Lack of coordination, disorientation, painful
muscle spasms and even incapacitation can result. Finally,
unconsciousness may occur.
What to do
Symptoms subside within a few minutes after the rate and depth
of breathing are consciously brought back under control. You
can quickly reverse the effects of hyperventilation by:
- If you're using an oxygen system, immediately turn the oxygen
regulator to deliver 100% oxygen and confirm it's functioning
correctly.
- Consciously breathing in and out slowly and deeply.
Breathe into a paper bag held over the nose and mouth if
possible.
- Once you feel refreshed, landing as soon as practical to be
sure you fully recover.
- Watch for signs of hyperventilation in your passengers,
too. Often they feel stressed in flight when a seasoned pilot
would not.
Aero-tip of the day: Beware the hazard of
too little CO2 in your system... by recognizing and reversing
hyperventilation.
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