The furious fight against fatigue

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Donner
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Juggling life's many responsibilities is challenging, but when fatigue is thrown into the mix it can be almost impossible.

Fatigue burdens everyone. It causes lapses in judgement and increases irritability.  When a minor mistake that is not necessarily a mission stopper is exacerbated by fatigue it can have life-threatening consequences.

The National Transportation Safety Board estimates that more than 100,000 auto accidents annually are related to fatigue. The Air Force's flying operations aren't immune either. In the last five years fatigue was to blame for approximately $72 million of major flight accident damage.  

"We have all experienced fatigue," said Capt. James Brown, 31st Fighter Wing Safety, Aerospace and Operational physiologist. "Studies have shown a fatigued individual's reaction time is comparable to individuals who have been drinking."

According to Brown, individuals who've been awake for 18 hours have the same reaction time as individuals with a BAC of .05 percent. Individuals who are awake for 24 hours have the same mental and motor skills of individuals with a blood alcohol content of .1 percent. Both are over the legal limit for operating a vehicle in Italy.

"There are people out there flying jets, guarding the gates and even driving their kids home without a good night's sleep," said Brown. "We won't allow someone to drive home after a couple of drinks, but we'll allow them to perform these activities while fatigued."

Fatigue doesn't have to be something one just fights through; there are several steps Airmen can take to prevent fatigue. The most important remedy is getting adequate downtime.

"Supervisors and schedulers must take the human factor into consideration when making work schedules," said Brown. "To help with this we're implementing a new proactive safety and scheduling tool across the wing."

The Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool (FAST) is used to ensure Team Aviano members get enough downtime. The program uses an algorithm to measure downtime vs. work time in order to calculate an Airman's effectiveness based on the ratio. The data can help leaders plan for Airmen to have the necessary downtime to increase performance.

"Everyone is different and we all know how much sleep we need," said Brown. "Individuals need to ensure they're getting enough sleep so their body and mind have a chance to recharge."

Work schedules may not be the only thing keeping individuals awake at night. The effects of everyday stressors and personal responsibilities can affect how well someone sleeps. The 31st Medical Group has several resources available to help combat sleep issues.

"If you're not sleeping well, it will eventually negatively impact all areas of your life," said Amy Abroms, 31st Medical Operations Squadron Internal Behavioral Health consultant. "The quicker you address your sleep concerns, the better."

Abroms suggests these practices to help wired Wyverns unwind at night:
    - Read a fiction or non-challenging book or magazine one hour prior to bedtime.
    - Avoid TV, tablets and computer use 1 hour before bedtime.
    - Avoid naps close to scheduled bed time.
    - Avoid caffeine and alcohol 6-8 hours before bed time.
    - Avoid studying or working in bed and the bedroom.
    - Exercise daily.
    - Ensure your sleep environment is conducive to sleep: climate-controlled, quiet, and comfortable.

According to Abrams, medical conditions and stress can impact an individual's ability to sleep. Behavioral Health consultants and primary care providers can help overcome those challenges.

Due to the nature of the military, sudden schedule changes and recalls are unavoidable. When Airmen are unable to get enough sleep, Brown suggested other options to help prevent fatigue:
       - Maintain a healthy diet that focuses on higher proteins, which increase alertness and performance.
       - Exercise before going to work.
       - Use caffeine only when needed and take a couple of days off per week to prevent building a 
          tolerance for it.
       - Take a short 40 minute power nap well before to bedtime.

Fatigue can erode an Airman's performance. As the primary fighter wing south of the Alps, Team Aviano needs its Airmen at the top of their game to Deter Aggression, Defend U.S. and NATO interest and Develop Aviano.

For more information on the FAST program and learn how to combat fatigue, call Capt. James Brown at 632-8520. For more information on sleep problems, call Amy Abroms at 632-5442.