NorCal Group 5

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NorCal Group 5

• National Safety Down Day

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Purposes

• Mandated by National Headquarters
• Pause for Introspection
• Pre-emptive strike on future mishaps
• Learn about potential hazards
• In other wordsto check ourselves before we wreck
  ourselves!

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Topics for Discussion

• FLYING
• Wind Shear
• Carbon Monoxide
• Taxiing Safely

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Topics for Discussion

• DRIVING
• Cell Phone Usage
• How Aging Affects Driving Safety
• Driving in Bad Weather

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Topics for Discussion

• WALKING and LIVING
• Food Safety
• Protecting Your Hearing (say what?)
• Preventing Falls

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Wind Shear

• What is it?
• A change in wind speed and/or direction over a
  short distance
• Occurs either horizontally or vertically, most
  often associated with strong temperature
  inversions or density gradients
• Note Source for all wind shear information
  presented is www.gofir.com, Aviation Accident
  Prevention Program

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Wind Shear

• Can occur at high or low altitude
• Four common sources for low level
• Frontal activity
• Thunderstorms
• Temperature Inversions
• Surface Obstructions

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Wind Shear

• Frontal Activity shear is normally only a
  problem when steep wind gradients are present
• No absolute rule, but two indicators are
• Temperature difference across the front at the
  surface is 10 degrees F (5 degrees C) or more
• Front is moving at a speed of at least 30 knots

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Wind Shear

• Thunderstorms are extremely dangerous!
• Gusty winds large downdrafts hit the ground and
  spread out horizontally
• Unpredictable winds can change direction 180
  degrees, can reach velocities of 100 knots 10
  miles ahead of storm
• Wind speed can increase up to 50 between surface
  and 1500 ft, mostly within first 150 feet

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Wind Shear

• Other problem is the downburst (intense localized
  downdraft)
• Exceeds 720 feet per minute vertical velocity at
  300 feet AGL
• Downburst power can exceed aircraft climb
  capabilities in one case, even an Air Force jet
  couldnt overcome it
• Clues dust clouds, roll clouds, heavy rain

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Wind Shear

• Temperature inversions common in Colorado,
  Southwestern U.S., and Southern California
• Overnight cooling creates inversion few hundred
  feet above ground
• Inversion low level jet (high winds) wind
  shears close to ground
• As inversion dissipates, shear and winds move
  closer to ground can be 90 degree direction
  change and 20-30 knot increase in surface wind in
  few minutes time

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Wind Shear

• Surface obstructions are buildings, hangars, et
  cetera near runways
• Also mountains, mountain passes strong wind
  blowing through passes can cause serious
  localized shears (i.e. N9706E)
• Whenever strong surface winds present, expect
  shears

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Wind Shear

• Two types of wind shear horizontal and vertical
• Horizontal e.g., flying across weather front
  line, generally less dangerous than
• Vertical near ground, can drastically alter
  lift, indicated airspeed, and thrust
• Changes aircraft motion relative to ground
  routine approach goes to emergency recovery in
  matter of seconds

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Wind Shear

• Is wind shear really so dangerous?
• USAir Flight 1019, July 2, 1994
• Did not recognize they were on outskirts of
  microburst (on board shear detection system
  malfunctioned)
• Did not do wind shear escape procedure, missed
  final approach
• Crashed into trees and residence near Charlotte,
  N.C. airport, killed 37, seriously injured 16.
  Capt/1st officer only minor injuries.

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Wind Shear

• Delta Airlines Flight 191, August 2, 1985
• On final approach for landing, crashed short of
  runway
• Couldnt recover from loss of lift caused by
  shear encountered inside intense cell of rain
• Crashed into ground, a car, and 2 water tanks
  short of the runway broke apart and burned
• 135 killed and 15 received serious injuries
• NTSB database were 370 accidents involving wind
  shear between 1/1/86 9/27/06

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Wind Shear

• Squadron 80, N9706E, January 14, 1995
• Pilot was very experienced, over 2000 flight
  hours, mountainous terrain qualified
• Only 9 flight hours since last 100 hour
  inspection for aircraft
• Caught in mountain wave effect, couldnt recover
• Nose dived into Mt. San Jacinto, all aboard
  killed
• NTSB database were 370 accidents involving wind
  shear between 1/1/86 9/27/06

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Wind Shear

• How to handle a wind shear
• Know it is there (did you do a thorough weather
  briefing?)
• Know the magnitude of the change (just how big is
  it, anyway?)
• Be prepared to correct for it or go around it
• Above all, RESPECT IT!

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Carbon Monoxide

• Swift, Silent, and Deadly!
• Colorless, odorless, tasteless POISONOUS GAS
• Prevents oxygen absorption by blood
• Creates vision problems, headaches,
  disorientation, blurred thinking
• Note All information on CO is from www.faa.gov

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Carbon Monoxide

• CO poisoning is most common industrial poisoning
  accident in the U.S.
• Ready source is fumes from burned aviation fuel
• Full extent of CO poisoning in aviation is
  unknown

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Carbon Monoxide

• Symptoms sluggishness, warmth, tightness across
  forehead
• Throbbing headache, pressure at temples, ringing
  in ears
• Severe headache, nausea, dizziness, dimming of
  vision
• Loss of consciousness

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Carbon Monoxide

• If symptoms present
• Turn off heater, any other opening to the engine
  compartment
• Open fresh air source immediately
• Dont smoke
• Use 100 oxygen if you have it
• Land ASAP and get medical help
• Fix the contamination source before further
  flight
• Is there a CO detector in YOUR aircraft???

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Prescription Drugs

• Forgotten threat
• Reduce/impair judgment, affect reflexes and
  hand/eye coordination
• Can interact adversely with over-the-counter
  medications
• Over-the-counter not benign for pilots either
• Check with doctor before mixing prescription and
  OTC, whether flying or not

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Prescription Drugs

• Common prescriptions are Tylenol 3 (contains
  codeine), Motrin (ibuprofen), Vicodin, Prilosec
  (omeprazole), various antibiotics and
  bloodthinners
• Antidepressant use also widespread, e.g.
  Wellbutrin, Paxil, Zoloft
• Dont forget after effects of medical/dental
  treatments nitrous oxide, novocaine

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Prescription Drugs

• Common OTC includes analgesics such as Tylenol,
  aspirin, Advil
• Guaifensin (Robitussin), Benadryl, Sudafed
• Key is to know how your prescription and OTC
  medications affect YOU
• Each person is different

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Prescription Drugs

• Fly or no fly????
• Ask yourself
• How do I feel? Alert? Well-rested? Reasonable
  energy level? Relatively strong and confident?
  OR NOT?
• Would I be flying as a hazard to myself or
  others?

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Taxiing Safety

• Approximately 60 of runway incursions due to
  pilot error
• Of those errors, general aviation involved in
  more than 70
• CAP taxi stats
• 1998 1 accident, 4 incidents
• 1999 3 incidents
• 2000 2 incidents
• 2001 7 incidents
• 2002 1 accident, 12 incidents
• 5 YEAR COST 130,225

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Taxiing Safety

• FY 05, poor landings and taxiing into
  obstructions main cases of CAP aircraft accidents
• Taxi incidents cost us big money!
• Biggest reason for incidents is PILOT ERROR

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Taxiing Safety

• A major cause of pilot error is lack of
  communication with ATC
• Other major cause is inattention
• Others ground traffic, ground/approach
  operations, not knowing airport
• Most damage is to wingtips

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Taxiing Safety

• Ways to enhance taxiing safety
• Do your research! Know the airports youre
  operating at.
• Check radio to make sure it works right
• Read back hold short instructions
• Ask for repeat if not sure of something
• Keep your head on a swivel be alert to
  everything ELSE around you

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Taxiing Safety

• References
• FAA Advisory Circular 91-73, Part 91 Pilot and
  Flight Crew Procedures during Taxi Operations and
  Part 135 Single-Pilot Operations
• A Pilots Guide to Safe Surface Operations
• Airfield Surface Safety CD
• Obtainable from www.faa.gov/runwaysafety

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Cell Phone Usage

• Ubiquitous tool of modern society
• New law in California, Jan 1, 2008 No hand held
  cell phones while driving
• Why the law? DRIVER DISTRACTION!

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Cell Phone Usage

• Driver reaction times slow and judgment is
  impaired when talking and driving
• Consumer Reports doesnt matter whether phone
  is hands-free or not
• 36 states considering bans on handheld cell
  phones driving (CA isnt alone)

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Cell Phone Usage

• Can you really split your attention between
  driving and talking on the phone?
• Studies indicate risk of collision 3 to 6 ½ times
  higher if talking on a phone
• Risk similar to driving while impaired by alcohol
  or drugs

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Cell Phone Usage

• Major study at University of Utah, June 06
• Just as you put yourself and other people at
  risk when you drive drunk, you put the same at
  risk when you use a cell phone and drive
• Safest not to use a cell phone while driving

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Cell Phone Usage

• Oregon State University study Dec 05
• There is a cost for switching from one task to
  another and that cost can be in response time or
  in accuracy
• We may be undermining our ability to drive
  safely

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Cell Phone Usage

• Virginia Tech and NHTSA study in April 06
• Almost 80 of crashes and 65 near-crashes had
  driver inattention within 3 seconds of event
• Most common distraction cell phones
• Second most drowsiness
• Hands-free redialed 40 of time, hand-held
  redialed 18
• Hands-free provides false sense of security

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Aging and Driving Safety
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Aging and Driving Safety

• As we age, reflexes and mental processes slow
  down
• Examples Charles Weller, Santa Monica (87)
  Dorothy Meyer, Palmdale (90)
• By the way, aging issues apply to flying also

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Aging and Driving Safety

• Mobility is a HUGE issue for seniors!
• But when to stop driving?
• When judgment and capacity is adversely impacted,
  safety is big issue
• Driver and public safety at risk

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Aging and Driving Safety

• DMV can restrict or revoke license
• So can peace officer
• Usually after an incident e.g., collision
• Priority re-exam for license

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Aging and Driving Safety

• 9 times out of 10, driver decides or family
  persuades to stop driving
• Physical and/or mental limitations
• Disorientation
• Driving knowledge erodes

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Aging and Driving Safety

• Bottom line, up to EACH OF US to police ourselves
• Pay attention to your changes as you age
• Stop driving (and flying) when gut tells you its
  time

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BAD Weather!
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BAD Weather!

• Obviously, rain provides dangerous conditions
• But so does other weather
• For example, TULE FOG!!!!

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BAD Weather!

• Driving in fog like driving with blindfold on
• Statistically most dangerous driving there is
• Safest thing is to stop until fog lifts
• Use defroster and wipers, dont slam on brakes in
  thick fog

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BAD Weather!

• If you must drive in fog, SLOW DOWN!!!!!
• Turn on headlights
• Pay attention to distance between you and other
  car
• Turn on fog lights if you have them
• Dont stop in the middle of road (you will be
  rear-ended)
• Use solid white line on right, not center line
  for path guide

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BAD Weather!

• RAIN means tire hydroplaning on water and/or
  vehicle fluids
• First rain of season most dangerous (fluids rise
  to surface of roadway)
• Need good tires and wipers!

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BAD Weather!

• Again, SLOW DOWN and allow more distance between
  you and the other guy
• Snow same as rain, but beware of black ice.
  Dont slam on brakes!
• Lose traction let up on gas until it returns.
  Crack window for visibility
• Take survival gear with you!

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You Are What You Eat
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You Are What You Eat

• Are you tired and listless?
• Do you sometimes run out of gas?
• Do you poop out at parties?
• Is that whats bothering you, Bunky?
• You MIGHT need some

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You Are What You Eat

• VITAMEATAVEGAMIN!

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You Are What You Eat

• Consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods among
  the basic food groups
• Choose foods that limit the intake of saturated
  and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, salt,
  and alcohol
• These burgers bad!

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You Are What You Eat

• Adults calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, and
  vitamins A (as carotenoids, e.g. beta carotene),
  C, and E
• Children and adolescents calcium, potassium,
  fiber, magnesium, and vitamin E

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You Are What You Eat

• People over age 50 also need vitamin B12 in its
  crystalline form (i.e., fortified foods or
  supplements)
• Nutrients consumed should come primarily from
  foods, not tablets or capsules

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You Are What You Eat

• Should be eating more dark green vegetables,
  orange vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains,
  and low-fat milk and milk products.
• Nutrient-dense foods provide substantial amounts
  of vitamins and minerals, relatively few
  calories.

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You Are What You Eat

• How much fruit and vegetables should YOU be
  eating?
• 16 year old male, 30-60 mins activity per day 2
  ½ cups fruit, 3 ½ cups veggies
• 47 year old female, less than 30 mins per day 1
  ½ cups fruit, 2 ½ cups veggies
• 60 year old male, less than 30 mins per day 2
  cups fruit, 3 cups veggies
• (For YOUR situation, see www.5aday.gov)

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You Are What You Eat

• Excess weight increases risk of heart attack,
  stroke, high blood pressure, pulmonary disease,
  diabetes
• Overweight at middle age increased risk of
  premature death per major study by National
  Cancer Institute

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You Are What You Eat

• E. Coli outbreak in fresh spinach
• Traced back to Natural Selection Foods, San Juan
  Bautista
• Brand names Natural Selection, Pride of San
  Juan, Earthbound Farm, Bellissima, Dole, Rave
  Spinach, Emeril, Sysco, O Organic, Fresh Point,
  River Ranch, Superior, Natures Basket,
  Compliments, Trader Joes, Ready Pac, Jansal
  Valley, Cheney Brothers, DArrigo Brothers, Green
  Harvest, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Premium Fresh,
  Pro-Mark, Snoboy, The Farmers Market, Tanimura
  Antle, Presidents Choice, Cross Valley, and
  Riverside Farms

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You Are What You Eat

• As of Sept. 30, 2006, 187 cases reported
• 97 hospitalizations
• 29 cases of kidney failure
• 1 fatality
• The outbreak only affects spinach
• Washing does not remove the E. coli
• Cooking spinach at 160 degrees for 15 seconds
  will kill any E. coli present

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You Are What You Eat

• Can also contract E. coli from undercooked ground
  beef (most common)
• Symptoms appear after 2-8 days of exposure
• Acute, severe diarrhea
• Stomach cramping, gas
• Abdominal pain, fever
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting is rare

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You Are What You Eat

• Bottom Line
• Watch the fat
• Watch the salt
• Watch the alcohol
• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veggies
• Forget fresh spinach for a while
• Balance your dietbalance your life!

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Can You Hear Me Now?

• Hearing loss becoming widespread, especially
  among young people
• Most common is noise-induced
• Caused by one-time exposure to super loud or
  medium loud over extended time
• Damages sensitive hair cells of inner ear

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Can You Hear Me Now?

• Less than 80 decibels okay for long-term
• Refrigerator hum 40 decibels
• Conversation 60 decibels
• Heavy city traffic 85 decibels
• Motorcycles, firecrackers, guns
• 120 150 decibels

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Can You Hear Me Now?

• Military having hearing problems guns,
  helicopters, demolition
• Almost 80,000 personnel have pensions for
  deafness
• Every Marine now gets issued
• Combat Arms Earplugs

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Can You Hear Me Now?

• Another cause of hearing loss loud music
• Rock and Roll Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame Pete
  Townshend, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins,
  Bono, et cetera (www.hardofhearinghalloffame.com)
• Concert sound levels
• 120-140 decibels

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Can You Hear Me Now?

• Not just concerts, but iPods, MP3 players
• 12 of children and teens have noise-induced
  hearing loss
• Over half the high schoolers surveyed in poll
  report at least one hearing loss symptom

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Can You Hear Me Now?

• iPods can get to 115 decibels, some MP3s go to
  120 decibels
• Some audiologists say earbuds are threat to
  long-term hearing
• Headphones and earbuds dont block out external
  noise, so turn the iPods UP

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Can You Hear Me Now?

• To help protect hearing
• Turn down the volume!
• Use good quality noise-blocking or canceling
  headphones (much better than earbuds)!
• Use earplugs at concerts
• RaceQuiet Earphones combine foam earplugs and
  earbuds, good for mobile
• Remember once your hearing is gone,
• ITS GONE!

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Bits and Pieces

• Help your people (and YOU) stay healthy
• Hydrate!
• Encourage folks to get lots of rest rested
  alert
• Eat right cut back on fat, caffeine, and sugar

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Bits and Pieces

• Get organized to help alleviate stress
• Wear appropriate gear for activity (e.g., break
  in new shoes in advance to decrease blisters)
• If taking medication, be sure to take as directed
  by physician

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Bits and Pieces

• Remember to take time for your families and for
  yourself (dont let CAP take over your life)
• Find out who your medically trained people are
  and what their skill set is
• Does your unit and your household have a first
  aid kit readily available?

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Bits and Pieces

• Be alert pay attention to what is going on
  around you! Inattention causes injury (people
  and equipment)
• Take charge! Be a leader! Instill that SAFETY
  FIRST mindset in your people, starting with
  YOURSELF!

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Remember

• When you look in the mirror, you see the person
  most responsible for your safety!