Monthly Safety Meeting 27 June 2013 Please sign roster
Before we begin Please sign the safety meeting roster Used to log safety currency in eservices Safety Officer logs currency Only other means (not through safety officer) is through on-line safety education course Safety currency necessary for participation in CAP activities Can view most current briefing on squadron website. Current only after email sent to safety officer and logged. 2
Topics Heat and sunburn Foot injuries Lyme disease Effects of density altitude 3
Heat and Sunburn Melanin - the skin s pigment and natural sunscreen, and the body's defense against the sun's burning rays Too much time in very hot or sunny conditions, and the body's natural defenses may break down, leading to sunburn, heat exhaustion or heat stroke 4
Dehydration: Heat Injuries Caused by spending too much time in heat without replacing fluids and electrolytes lost through perspiration. Impairs the functioning of the body's cooling mechanism, resulting in heat exhaustion. If not treated, it can progress to a heatstroke. Some medications increase the risk of heat injuries by promoting dehydration, including diuretics for high blood pressure, some antipsychotic drugs, and some sedatives. 5
Cause: Sunburn Ultraviolet light from the sun. Amount of time to cause sunburn depends on: Amount of melanin (skin pigment). Light-colored skin burns faster due to less melanin. Time of day. Sunburn occurs faster during midday, when the sun's rays are strongest. Treatment Cool compresses can relieve discomfort. If blisters form, cover them with bandages to prevent infection. Ibuprofen can lower temperature if there is a fever 6
Sunburn Prevention Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day Replace needed minerals and electrolytes (e.g., sports drink) Reduce consumption of caffeine (promotes dehydration) Clothing: Wear lightweight clothing; wear a hat; take periodic breaks Limit strenuous activities; get into shade or AC building Limit the amount of time spent outdoors from 1000-1400, when the risk of sunburn is greatest. Use a sunscreen protecting against the full spectrum of ultraviolet light that causes sunburn: ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B light. Sunscreen doesn t completely prevent sunburn; it merely delays the time it would otherwise take for the skin to burn 7
Foot Injuries Each of your feet has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. A lot of things can go wrong. Here are a few common problems: Bunions: hard, painful bumps on the big toe joint Calluses/corns: thickened skin from friction or pressure Plantar warts: warts on the soles of your feet Fallen arches: flat feet Ill-fitting shoes often cause these problems. Aging and being overweight also increase your chances of having foot problems 8
Foot Injuries What is a Foot or Ankle Sprain or Fracture? A foot or ankle sprain is a soft tissue injury. A sprain occurs when an injury pulls, stretches, or tears the ligaments that connect bone to bone. A fracture is actually a break in the bone. Causes Injuries are the most common causes of foot and ankle sprains and fractures. Many fractures and sprains occur during sports. Football players are particularly vulnerable to foot and ankle sprains and fractures. Basketball players are prone to ankle sprains, and runners may develop stress fractures of the ankle or foot. Gymnasts and dancers may also develop stress fractures. Tripping or stumbling on uneven ground is another common cause of foot and ankle sprains and fractures. 9
Foot Injury Symptoms and Care Symptoms Pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking on the affected foot or ankle are the most common symptoms of a sprained or fractured foot or ankle Home Care Foot or ankle, err on the side of caution. The acronym R-I-C-E can help you remember what to do: Rest: Rest the affected area. Stay off the injured foot or ankle until it can be fully evaluated. Walking, running, or playing sports on an injured foot or ankle may make the injury worse Ice: Apply ice to the affected area as soon as possible, and reapply it for 15 20 minutes every three or four hours for the first 48 hours after injury. Ice can decrease inflammation Compression: Wrap an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap) around the affected foot or ankle. The wrapping should be snug, but not so tight as to cut off circulation Elevation: Elevate the affected extremity on a couple of pillows; ideally, your foot or ankle should be higher than your heart. Keeping your foot or ankle elevated also decreases swelling 10
Lyme Disease Transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., bulls-eye rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks Most cases can be successfully treated with a few weeks of antibiotics Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. 11
Lyme Disease Early localized stage (3-30 days post tick-bite) Red, expanding rash. Fatigue, chills, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes Erythema migrans (EM) or bull s-eye rash Rash occurs in 70-80% of people. Begins after 3-30 days (avg is 7 days) Rash gradually expands over several days, can reach 12 across. Rash usually feels warm to the touch but is rarely itchy or painful Untreated, infection may spread to other parts of body Facial or Bell s palsy (loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of face) Severe headaches, neck stiffness due to meningitis Pain and swelling in large joints; shooting pains interfering with sleep 12
Preventing Tick Bites Avoid direct contact with ticks (woods and bushy areas with high grass); walk in center of trails Repel ticks with 20% or more of DEET or Permethrin Find and remove ticks from your body Bathe or shower as soon as possible (preferably within 2 hours) Conduct a full-body check (e.g., under arms, behind knees, hair) Examine gear and pets (no free rides!) Tumble clothes in dryer on high heat for an hour to kill remaining ticks 13
Reported Cases of Lyme Disease - 2011 True / False Lyme disease occurs throughout US? Lyme disease is transmitted from person to person? Best way to remove a tick is to grasp tick close to skin with tweezers and pull straight away from skin Tick must be attached to skin for >24 hrs before it can transmit Lyme disease 14
Terms Effects of Density Altitude Indicated Altitude: altitude shown on altimeter True Altitude: height above mean sea level (MSL) Absolute Altitude: height above ground level (AGL) Pressure Altitude: indicated altitude when altimeter is set to 29.92 Hg; used in acft performance calculations and in high-altitude flight Density Altitude: pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature variations 15
Why Does Density Altitude Matter? High density altitude = decreased performance High altitude = less dense air High temperatures = less dense air High humidity related to engine power vice aerodynamic efficiency At 96 o F, water vapor content can be 8X as great as at 42 o F If high humidity, add 10% to computed takeoff distance Increased density altitude Increased takeoff distance Reduce rate of climb Increased TAS (but same IAS) on approach / landing Increased landing roll distance 16
Density Altitude Charts 17
Flight Planning - Density Altitude Runway temperature over a hot, paved surface can be as much as 40 o F greater than temperature reported by sensors Consider running a 2 nd set of T/O data at +40 o F/20 o C More doubtful the weather, the more information you need to obtain If using cell phone, the 1-800-WX-BRIEF number connects you with your cell phone s area code (might not be the one at your location) 18
Heat and Feet Illness Symptoms Treatment Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke Fever up to 103 o C, nausea, headaches, fatigue, muscle cramps Body temp >103 o ; hot, red, dry skin; mental confusion and loss of consciousness Lie down in cool area, drink fluids, seek medical care if vomiting continues Call 911 immediately, move to cool area, cool down, sip fluids Encampment: Major medical problem is blisters Make sure boots fit and are broken in prior to arriving 19
Review (4 questions on 2 slides) Email answers to 4 questions: volchansky.l@natcapwg.cap.gov 1. (Select the best answer) Sunburn prevention and heat injuries are prevented by: a. Wearing a hat and limiting the time spent outdoors between 1000-1400 b. Drinking liquids with caffeine c. Wearing heavy clothing to protect against ultraviolet rays d. All of the above 2. (Select the best answer) From this briefing, home care for foot injuries needs: a. Rest, Ice, Compression, Escalation b. Cooling and Elevation c. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation d. Reduced exercise and light bandaging 20
Review (4 questions on 2 slides) Email answers to 4 questions: volchansky.l@natcapwg.cap.gov 3. Select all correct answers regarding Lyme disease: a. Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks b. The rash looks like a spider web c. The rash usually feels warm to the touch but is rarely itchy or painful d. Find and remove ticks from your body 4. (Select the best answer) Increased density altitude causes the following: a. Increased takeoff distance b. Reduced rate of climb c. Increased True Air Speed (TAS) on approach and landing d. All of the above 21