American Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Pilots Report to Work Despite High Rates of Sleepiness.

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies on helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) pilots found a positive correlation among fatigue, nodding off in flight, and accidents. We sought to quantify the amount of sleepiness in HEMS pilots using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

METHODS

An anonymous survey was sent via the National EMS Pilots Association emergency medical services listserv including demographics, the ESS, and subjective effects of fatigue on flying. Statistical analyses were performed using the t-test and analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Thirty-one surveys were returned. Twenty-one (65%) reported an ESS > 10, indicating excessive daytime sleepiness. Twelve (39%) reported nodding off in flight; 20 (65%) indicated that they should have refused to fly, but only 14 (45%) actually did. En route was the most likely phase of flight to be affected by fatigue (23 [74%]), whereas takeoff (2 [7%]) and landing (2 [7%]) were the least likely to be affected.

CONCLUSION

Many HEMS pilots in this small study reported excessive daytime sleepiness. Most respondents indicated that they should have turned down a flight because of fatigue. More research is necessary to quantify the burden of fatigue among HEMS pilots.