A medical outlook: Aircraft safety

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Leigh Swanson
  • 90th Medical Operations Squadron commander
F.E. WARREN AFB, Wyo. --  In preparation for writing this, I had finally picked an incredible leadership topic I was sure was going to revolutionize F.E. Warren. 

Then as I was sitting in an airport waiting for my flight home from a military medical conference, I realized I should focus on a safety topic instead - aircraft safety. 

Besides being the 90th Medical Operations Squadron commander, I am also the Chief of Aerospace Medicine -- meaning I have specialized training in medical topics related to air and space. As airlines don't typically give out medical information on flying safely, I thought I would use this opportunity to share some information. 

Appropriate footwear. Now, I realize most people want to look good while flying and meeting friends and family when they arrive. Probably about 99 percent of the time, how you dress won't be an issue. 

But what if there is an emergency? 

Do you think emergency egress will be as fast or as safe if you are wearing high-heel shoes or flip-flops? The best footwear is a form of comfortable closed toe shoe with adjustable straps, as some people's feet swell during longer flights. 

Remember, one of the ways emergency egress occurs is down escape slides out of the doors. Perhaps a dress may not be the most appropriate. And when you have less pressurization in the aircraft -- most aircraft pressurize to about 8,000 feet sea level, gases tend to expand. This includes your ears, lungs, sinuses and your intestines. You will be much more comfortable wearing looser fitting clothes when your abdomen increases in size a little, at least until you land or relieve yourself of the gas. 

And speaking of gases expanding, that is why most people don't have problems with their ears going up in altitude as the ears can repressurize themselves. It is coming down in altitude when sometimes the ears are unable to repressurize themselves. If you can Valsalva or attempt to forcibly exhale while keeping the mouth and nose closed, that may help. Chewing gum or swallowing can also assist to clear your ears. 

Other medical problems can occur from the flying environment. This includes deep venous thrombosis, overall lower blood oxygen levels and exposure to illness from close proximity. 

Deep venous thrombosis means a blood clot has formed typically in your lower legs and can occur especially on longer flights. To help prevent clots from forming, get up and walk around every so often or pump your feet up and down while sitting. If you notice your feet have swollen or your shoes feel tight, then you are not moving your legs enough and you are at increased risk of getting a clot. 

Also, as you go up in altitude the oxygen pressure decreases. You will tend to have lower oxygen levels in your blood. Most people, to include pregnant women and their fetuses, will have no problems with this. But if you are already on oxygen, or borderline, please contact the airline in advance of your flight to arrange for oxygen to be on the flight with you. 

The air circulation and purification is actually very good on airlines. Typically you might only share some air with the folks within two rows of you. So if someone is coughing four rows away, don't worry about being exposed in flight. However, if they are sitting right next to you, you will be just as exposed as if you were on the ground. 

Now I know this topic wasn't as earth shattering as my original idea was, but if I helped prevent one deep vein thrombosis or helped someone safely egress a plane a little faster from wearing more appropriate footwear, it was well worth it.