nPostednon October 17, 2014
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nWhatnis “aviation medicine,” and why is today’s birthday boy, PaulnBert, the “father” of it?
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PaulnBert, born in France on this date in 1833, studied engineering, thennlaw, then physiology. He graduated from university as a doctor ofnmedicine and (later) as a doctor of science, and he became anprofessor and researcher.
PaulnBert, born in France on this date in 1833, studied engineering, thennlaw, then physiology. He graduated from university as a doctor ofnmedicine and (later) as a doctor of science, and he became anprofessor and researcher.n
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n(Henalso became a politician who worked to liberate “national education from religious sects, while rendering it accessible to every citizen.” In other words, he wanted a good, secularneducation to be available to all.)
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nInnBert’s scientific research, he studied many things, but he isnespecially known for his studies of the effects of airnpressure—including high and low air pressure—on animals andnplants. n
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Didnyou know that oxygen can be a poison if there is too much of it innour body tissues? Divers who breathe oxygen at higher-than-normalnpartial pressures have to worry about oxygen toxicity, and people whonbreathe oxygen from tanks for other reasons have to take care asnwell. Apparently, the new “oxygen bars” available to people fornrecreational use are dangerous to those with heart and lung disease –nso check that out carefully if you are ever tempted to go to one!
Didnyou know that oxygen can be a poison if there is too much of it innour body tissues? Divers who breathe oxygen at higher-than-normalnpartial pressures have to worry about oxygen toxicity, and people whonbreathe oxygen from tanks for other reasons have to take care asnwell. Apparently, the new “oxygen bars” available to people fornrecreational use are dangerous to those with heart and lung disease –nso check that out carefully if you are ever tempted to go to one!n
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nOfncourse, low amounts of oxygen can be an even bigger problem, evennquicker—and Bert studied the effects of low air pressure onnballoonists and on animals in a hypobaric chamber he invented. Withnthis experimental apparatus he could simulate the conditions ofnreally high altitudes—up to 36,000 feet! He realized thatnballoonists who travel at high altitudes should take supplementalnoxygen.
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nAllnof Bert’s data was pressed into service by others once people startednflying planes in the early 1900s, and aviation medicine became a bignarea of research at the beginning of World War II. At that point,nthe scientists who were STILL using Bert’s observations realized thatnhe deserved the credit for being the founder of the new branch ofnmedicine.
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nAviationnmedicine is more than just a study of low air pressure—althoughnthat is really important, and obviously air travel requires thatnpilots perform well! Aviation medicine looks at all the stresses ofnflight: extreme temperatures, radiation, noise, vibrations, forces ofnacceleration, as well as low air pressure and oxygen deprivation.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Astronaut Mae Jemison’s birthday
Astronaut Mae Jemison’s birthday
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nBlacknPoetry Day
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nMulligannDay
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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- Historicaln anniversaries in October
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nNovembern holidays
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nNovembern birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in November
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