Managing fatigue in EMS Flight Operations: challenges and opportunities

http://www.nemspa.org/Shared%20Documents/Rosekind_WhitePaper.pdf
Report by Mark R. Rosekind

Modern society’s 24/7 demands create significant physiological challenges for the humans
responsible for safe and effective operations. Around-the-clock requirements create sleep and
circadian disruptions that lead to reduced performance, alertness, safety, and health. Decades of
scientific research and an extensive scientific literature clearly demonstrate that fatigue (created
by sleep and circadian disruption) is a significant risk factor across diverse operational settings,
including aviation and all other modes of transportation (1, 2, 3). The humans involved in EMS
flight operations confront these same, well-documented physiological challenges and safety risks
related to fatigue.
Acknowledging these fatigue-related safety risks, the National EMS Pilot Association
(NEMSPA) requested a brief, summary examination of the challenges and opportunities related
to managing fatigue in EMS flight operations. In response to this NEMSPA request, the
following addresses four critical areas that represent the most significant challenges and
opportunities related to fatigue in current EMS flight operations.