SectlonX
BEECHCRAFT
Satety
lntormatlon
ability.
Consequently,
an
hypoxic individual
commonly believes things are getting progressively
better while
he
nears total collapse.
The symptoms are slow but progressive, insidious
in
onset, and are most marked at altitudes starting
above ten thousand feet. Night vision, however, can
be impaired starting at an altitude of
5,000 feet.
Persons who have recently overindulged
in
alcohol.
who are moderate to heavy smokers, or who take
certain drugs, may
be more susceptible to hypoxia.
Susceptibility may also vary
in
the same individual
from day to day or even morning to evening.
Use
oxygen on flights above I0,000 feet and at any time
when symptoms appear.
Depending upon altitude, an hypoxic individual has a
limited time to make decisions and perform useful
acts, even though he may remain conscious for a
longer period. lf pressurization equipment fails at
certain
altitudes the pilot and passengers have only a
certain amount of time to get an oxygen mask on
before
they
exceed
their
time
of
useful
consciousness. The time of useful consciousness
is
approximately
3-5
minutes at
25,000
feet of altitude
in
the average individual and diminishes markedly as
altitude increases. At 30,000 feet altitude, for
1o-60
March, 1981
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