Physiological Issues in UAS

 

Medications with Significant Risks

            Over-the-counter medications pose significant risk to the proper performance of UAS operations. Some medications, such as allergy and cold products, have sedating antihistamines. Sedating antihistamines can lead to drowsiness, impaired thinking, and bad judgment (Federal Aviation Administration, 2019). Sedating antihistamines have a few other names like chlorpheniramine, ketotifen, and doxylamine. Another medication that can pose a significant risk is medication containing sudafed. Even though medications containing sudafed are allowed, the Federal Aviation Administration (2019) recommends caution with use. Sudafed can speed up the heart’s rate. So, the Federal Aviation Administration (2019) advises persons with underlying heart conditions to not consume products containing sudafed. Moreover, if a user with a heart condition is unaware of sudafed’s affect on the heart, the user can put themselves, the flight, and other people in danger. That’s extremely significant.

Effective Mitigation Strategies

            From a human factors perspective, the most effective mitigation strategies that operators can use when conducting UAS operations are the four fundamental principles of risk management. The first principle is do not accept unnecessary risk (Federal Aviation Administration, 2016). Some risks are acceptable, but unnecessary risks are not necessary. The second fundamental principle is practice decision-making at the appropriate level. A small UAS team leader can not make the decisions of a mission commander. As mentioned before, there are times risks can not be avoided, which is the premise of the third principle. Necessary risks, that is risks with benefits that outweight the costs, are the only risks allowed and accepted. Lastly, since risk can not always be avoided, the fourth fundamental principle directs the integration of risk management into planning at all stages of flight (Federal Aviation Administration, 2016).

Fatigue and Stress Affects

            Stress and fatigue can have adverse affects on the body. Stress can affect the body’s respiratory and cardiovascular systems by causing blood vessels to constrict which can ultimately raise blood pressure (Pietrangelo & Legg, 2020). Additionally, stress can affect the central nervous and endocrine systems by keeping the body in the fight response mode and not allowing the body to rest. Lastly, stress can have behavioral affects that can lead to alcohol and/or drug abuse, social withdrawal, and eating disorders. Fatigue is especially hard on the body. Fatigue can affect the body and mind, simultaneously, which can develop into serious conditions (Honor Society of Nursing, n.d.). Fatigue can interrupt concentration and the mind’s ability to recall information. Fatigue can also affect sleep patterns and cause hypertension.

References

Federal Aviation Administration. (2016). Chapter 10: Aeronautical decision-making and judgment. Remote pilot - Small unmanned aircraft systems study guide. https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/remote_pilot_study_guide.pdf

Federal Aviation Administration. (2019). What over-the-counter (OTC) medication can I take and still be safe to fly? https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/media/OTCMedicationsforPilots.pdf

Honor Society of Nursing. (n.d.). How does chronic fatigue syndrome affect the body? Sharecare.com. https://www.sharecare.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/does-fatigue-syndrome-affect-body#:~:text=Fatigue%20can%20cause%20the%20brain%20to%20function%20incorrectly%2C,can%20make%20your%20body%20more%20susceptible%20to%20infection

 

Pietrangelo, A., & Legg, T. J. (2020). The effects of stress onyour body. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body