What should the pilot do if a passenger suddenly feels discomfort during the cruise phase of flight?
MOTION SICKNESS
Motion sickness occurs when a person is subjected to certain types of motion or movemen, and there is a discrepancy between visual perception and the body's sense of movement and balance. This mismatch can lead to confusion in the brain's sensory processing, triggering symptoms of motion sickness. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, discomfort, pallor, cold sweats and depression.
RECOVERY TECHNIQUES
In order to recover from motion sickness:
- Minimize head movement to avoid stimulating the vestibular system.
- Focus with your eyes on a steady datum outside the cockpit such as the horizon.
- Introduce fresh air.
- Smooth, steady aircraft maneuvers can lessen discomfort.
Let's examine the options given:
- Avoid conversation and choose a higher airspeed (INCORRECT): Avoiding conversation will not directly address the passenger's discomfort. Choosing a higher airspeed increases the risk of vibrations due to turbulence, which will worsen the discomfort.
- Switch on the heater blower and provide thermal blankets (INCORRECT): Fresh air is needed instead of hot air to help with the motion sickness symptoms. Thermal blanket is irrelevant.
- Give additional oxygen and avoid low load factors (INCORRECT): Additional oxygen is typically not necessary for discomfort unless there is a specific medical condition involved. Load factors (g-forces) should be minimized.
- Adjust cabin temperature and prevent excessive bank (CORRECT): Ensuring the cabin temperature is comfortable for the passenger might help. Avoiding sharp turns or maneuvers minimizes load factors (g-forces) and provides smooth flight characteristics that will help the passenger recover.
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