Train engineer suffered from severe sleep apnea
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: An investigation shows the train engineer who was at the controls of a fatal commuter train crash in New York in December suffered from “severe” sleep apnea. Updated: Tuesday, April 8 2014, 08:17 AM EDThttp://www.wwmt.com/shared/news/features/national/stories/wwmt_-train-engineer-suffered-severe-sleep-apnea-7403.shtml#.U0a5nq1dVuC NEW YORK (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – An investigation shows the engineer who was at the controls of a fatal commuter train crash in New York in December suffered from “severe” sleep apnea.A report from the National Transportation Safety Board says William Rockefeller didn’t know he suffered from the condition.The report also says he took an antihistamine the day of the crash …
New Trucking Study Says Two Nights Sleep Safer than One
Notes from Dr. Norman BlumenstockThe U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released findings from what government officials are calling a “real world, third-party study” that shows two nights rest is better than one.The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released findings from what government officials are calling a “real world, third-party study” that shows two nights rest is better than one. The FMCSA news release says the latest study provides further scientific evidence that the restart provision in the current hours-of-service rule for truck drivers is more effective at combatting fatigue than …
FAA Rejects “Rulemaking” Process, Will Implement Strict OSA Screening
From Dr. Norman Blumenstock: Hopefully this will make the skies safer for air travel. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is reporting that the FAA will move forward with implementing mandatory screening and testing for obstructive sleep apnea, despite opposition from the pilot and aviation medical communities. During a webinar last week, the Federal Flight Surgeon said the FAA would require aviation medical examiners to calculate body mass index (BMI) for all pilots. Those with a BMI of 40 or greater would have to be screened and, if necessary, treated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). “The AME may issue a …
FAA to Ground Obese Pilots Until Examined for OSA, Pilots Fight for Rulemaking
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: This may result in improved public safety in the air. Pilots fear that they can lose their livelihood if they can’t tolerated CPAP. Oral appliances may be the best solution for those pilots that have mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Published on Tuesday, 26 November 2013 10:09 By Sree Roy Pilots with a body mass index greater than 40 and a neck circumference of 17 inches or more will soon have to be tested for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before being allowed to fly, according to a bulletin issued by Federal Air Surgeon Fred Tilton, MD. …
Pilots Push Back on FAA Apnea Screening Policy
Notes from Dr. Norman Blumenstock: Should airline pilots get screened for obstructive sleep apnea? November 20, 2013 by agpubs The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is asking the Federal Aviation Administration to indefinitely suspend a new policy that would require some pilots to be screened and, if necessary, treated for obstructive sleep apnea before receiving a medical certificate. An article posted on the AOPA Web site reports that at first, the screening would apply to pilots with a body mass index (BMI) over 40. Over time, the FAA would lower theBMI requirement, compelling more pilots to be screened by a board-certified sleep specialist. The …
Spotlight on Sleep Apnea
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recognizes untreated sleep apnea as a risk to the public health: Staying awake means staying alive. Sleep apnea is a major contributor to daytime drowsiness—a condition that could prove deadly for commercial truck drivers and everyone sharing the road with them. It is a condition where, during sleep, a narrowing or closure of the upper airway causes repeated sleep disturbances leading to poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness. Since excessive sleepiness can impact a driver’s ability to safely operate the commercial vehicle, it is important that drivers with sleep apnea are aware of …
Sleep Related Trucking Legislation Takes Fast Track to Obama’s Desk
Bucking the trend toward legislative gridlock, new legislation to limit sleep apnea “guidance” has passed the House and Senate, and is now headed to the President’s desk. The bill was approved in the House by a vote of 405-0 in late September, and the Senate (also unanimously) passed it in October. “The best part,” writes Charlie Morasch, of LandLineMag, a trucking industry publication, is that “Truckers are being hailed for their efforts to support the proposed law.” Introduced in mid-September by Reps Larry Bucshon (R-Ind) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill), HR3095 required the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to go through …
Pilots snoozed at 30,000 feet in cockpit of 300-passenger plane
By Thom Patterson, CNN updated 6:47 PM EDT, Thu September 26, 2013 UK probes whether pilots slept at same time (CNN) — Cruising at 30,000 feet, pilots snoozed in the cockpit of a 300-passenger airliner en route to Britain last August, UK aviation authorities told CNN on Thursday. A spokesman for the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority tells CNN that the Airbus A330 incident occurred while the aircraft was operating on autopilot on a long-distance flight. The CAA wouldn’t reveal any other details of the flight, its route or its destination airport. Sources told CNN’s Richard Quest the airline is Virgin Atlantic. …
Sleep Apnea Patients More Likely To Fail Simulated Driving Test, Study Says
Here’s another reason to make sure your snoring isn’t sleep apnea. According to a new study, people with sleep apnea — a condition where a person stops breathing for periods of time throughout the night, leading to disrupted sleep — were more likely to fail a driving simulator test and also reported falling asleep while driving more than people without the sleep condition. The study, conducted by researchers from the the University Hospital in Leeds and presented at the Sleep And Breathing Conference in Berlin, included two parts. The first part tested the driving ability of 133 people with untreated …
Sleep Apnea & Multi-Modal Transportation Conference in Baltimore
Dr. Blumenstock has attended the Sleep Apnea & Multi-Modal Transportation Conference in Baltimore on November 8-9, 2011. This event was sponsored by the American Sleep Society to promote and find solutions for transportation safety. …
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