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Section X
BEECHCRAFT
Safety Information
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 10,000 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. If
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
10-60
March, 1981
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