Guest guest Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 In a message dated 10/20/2006 11:37:38 A.M. Central Daylight Time, .Rinard@... writes: The whole EVOC discussion begs an interesting side issue. In many areas of Texas as well as the country, there is routine use of " senior " (in age) drivers. Given the physiological changes which occur to hearing, eyesight and reaction times, not to mention the plethora of meds some of these folks are on I wonder if we are doing the right thing for them, their partners and the patients by allowing them to continue to drive emergency vehicles. Agreed! BUT again its the kind of thing that BEGS to be researched. Does ANYONE have ANY reliable data on this kind of thing is the bigger ? as I see it but this point is valid at least anecdotally but that is the problem everything (seemingly) we (in EMS) do is like this. Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant LNMolino@... (Cell Phone) (Home Phone) (IFW/TFW/FSS Office) (IFW/TFW/FSS Fax) " A Texan with a Jersey Attitude " " Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962) The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless I specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only for its stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the original author. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Texas has had an EVOC course funded thru TxDOT for years. It was severely underutilized and we seldom had requests for them. The whole EVOC discussion begs an interesting side issue. In many areas of Texas as well as the country, there is routine use of " senior " (in age) drivers. Given the physiological changes which occur to hearing, eyesight and reaction times, not to mention the plethora of meds some of these folks are on I wonder if we are doing the right thing for them, their partners and the patients by allowing them to continue to drive emergency vehicles. Rinard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Which brings me to the question... At what point do we prohibit people from driving altogether? Emergency Vehicle or not. The woman who killed was 84 years old, and " disoriented " driving on the wrong side of the divided highway. I took the TxDOT EVOC Course, and learned a LOT from it that I did not learn from the CEVO or other so-called " EVOC " courses. Wonder what it would take to bring this course back, and get it more widely implemented. Perhaps an insurance break for companies with " Certified " drivers? Just a thought... -Meris NREMT-P Austin, TX > > Texas has had an EVOC course funded thru TxDOT for years. It was > severely underutilized and we seldom had requests for them. > > The whole EVOC discussion begs an interesting side issue. In many areas > of Texas as well as the country, there is routine use of " senior " (in > age) drivers. Given the physiological changes which occur to hearing, > eyesight and reaction times, not to mention the plethora of meds some of > these folks are on I wonder if we are doing the right thing for them, > their partners and the patients by allowing them to continue to drive > emergency vehicles. > > Rinard > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 In a message dated 10/23/2006 5:37:30 PM Central Standard Time, paramedicop@... writes: You could base a study on this on FCC and military data regarding pilots, I'd suppose... Mike You mean " FAA, " I believe.. and I will point out that the high speed low drag fighter Jocks tend to burn out by 35 or so, while the bomber and 'truck' drivers can last into their 50s... Since most of the helo pilots don't pull high Gs either, they can function well into their 50s. I believe that mandatory FAA restrictions on pilots work out to around 55 for Airline Transport Pilots (Class 1), Class 2 (non ATP) at 60, and Class 3 around 70...presuming that any hearing or vision defects are corrected to allow for a SODA (Statement Of Demonstrated Ability). ck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 You could base a study on this on FCC and military data regarding pilots, I'd suppose... Mike > > > > In a message dated 10/20/2006 11:37:38 A.M. Central Daylight Time, > .Rinard@... <.Rinard%40teexmail.tamu.edu> writes: > > The whole EVOC discussion begs an interesting side issue. In many areas > of Texas as well as the country, there is routine use of " senior " (in > age) drivers. Given the physiological changes which occur to hearing, > eyesight and reaction times, not to mention the plethora of meds some of > these folks are on I wonder if we are doing the right thing for them, > their partners and the patients by allowing them to continue to drive > emergency vehicles. > > Agreed! BUT again its the kind of thing that BEGS to be researched. Does > ANYONE have ANY reliable data on this kind of thing is the bigger ? as I > see it > but this point is valid at least anecdotally but that is the problem > everything (seemingly) we (in EMS) do is like this. > > Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET > FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI > Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant > > LNMolino@... <LNMolino%40aol.com> > > (Cell Phone) > (Home Phone) > (IFW/TFW/FSS Office) > (IFW/TFW/FSS Fax) > > " A Texan with a Jersey Attitude " > > " Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds > discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962) > > The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and > the > author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or > organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with > unless I > specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended > only for its > stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials > retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain > by the > original author. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 I think I missed something. There is no age restriction in the FAA except for Part 121 Scheduled service pilots. As long as a class II medical can be passed, a pilot may fly commercially until he/she decides to hang it up. A class III medical is even less stringent. There are 80 yr olds competently exercising the privileges of a pilot. Kirk EMT B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 > > You could base a study on this on FCC and military data regarding pilots, > I'd suppose... > > You mean " FAA, " I believe.. Yep. Wrong acronym, right thought... > I believe that mandatory FAA restrictions on pilots work out to around 55 > for Airline Transport Pilots (Class 1), Class 2 (non ATP) at 60, and Class 3 > around 70...presuming that any hearing or vision defects are corrected to allow > for a SODA (Statement Of Demonstrated Ability). That's probably right. And not too many folks in street-level EMS are 70... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Okay, that may be so, but (and some of you flight folks may be able to correct me if I am wrong) hypoxia and spatial disorientation are two of the most dangerous conditions that can be experienced by flight crews. Older folks are more prone to hypoxia anyway due to decreased lung elasticity, and various disease processes. How many smokers fly planes, for example? Symptoms of hypoxia during flight can vary from mild anxiety and disorientation to belligerence, and unconsciousness. Spatial disorientation can have similar symptoms, and it's earliest stages are usually unrecognized by crews or pilots. These account for a large percentage of CFIT's (Controlled Flight Into Terrain). Considering the reaction times of older folks can be delayed by the normal aging process.... Well I can see how aging pilots could be dangerous, and not even realize it. -Meris NREMT-P Austin, TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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