![]() ![]() ![]() The NFC points out how driving after missing sleep for more than 20 hours equals driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08% which is the U.S. ![]() Reaction times and awareness of hazards worsen, making you three times more likely to get involved in a car accident when sleepy. And this is not surprising when you think about how a vehicle can travel the length of a football field in just 4-5 seconds at highway speed with an inattentive driver!ĭrowsy driving puts everyone in danger because it is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the National Safety Council (NFC). Drowsy driving is responsible for 6,400 fatal road accidents each year in the United States, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. According to a 2019 survey done by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), almost half of the 2000 respondents report that they have struggled to stay awake while behind the wheel. Microsleep while driving is in fact a real threat to road safety. Surgeons, train and truck drivers, machine operators, air pilots, shift workers and taxi drivers are examples of risky professions for someone experiencing microsleep. Being inattentive for even the slightest moment can have great consequences when doing sensitive work or operating heavy machinery. The real danger is the risk of accidents potentially caused by this brief ‘shut down’. Although the latter might get you in trouble with your little ones, you’re not putting anyone in danger. We all know the feeling of dozing off on the couch to a war documentary on TV or reading the same sentence three times in your children’s story book. The inability to stay awake doesn’t always pose a danger. Keep in mind that above symptoms are only an issue in situations where you don’t intend to fall asleep. You are more prone to make mistakes at work or have a hard time concentrating and remembering things (often found in people working night shifts).You are unaware of something that just happened or feel you ‘missed’ a moment.You find yourself unable to process information or fully understand what’s being said.You struggle to keep your eyes open, yawn and blink excessively.You are suddenly startled by your head nodding or by body jerks.If you can recognize any of these common symptoms, you may have experienced microsleep: No matter the symptoms, microsleep often leaves the feeling of ‘zoning out’ for a moment. But it’s also possible to appear awake with eyes still open. You may recognize microsleep in others (or yourself) from droopy eyelids to a sudden head nod. This is because the brain switches rapidly between being awake and being asleep. People who experience microsleeps often remain unaware of them, instead believing themselves to have been temporarily mind wandering. However, it is far from fully awake during microsleep as parts go into local sleep from being inactive. The majority of the brain stays active compared to the deactivation occurring during regular sleep. Microsleep almost resembles moments of unconsciousness. During microsleep, brain waves slow down noticeably and the brain stops processing information as usual. Microsleep refers to brief moments of involuntary sleep or drowsiness. Jump directly to: How to prevent microsleep while driving and stay awake What is microsleep? ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |