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According to a team of French researchers, medical staff who drivehome after a night shift are more likely to have an accident. The researchers examined the driving skills of 30 anesthesiatrainees in a sleep-deprived condition (SDC) and after a night ofnormal sleep. Study participants were asked to complete simulateddriving tests at 8am. The trainees drove for 15 minutes in urban conditions and then for60 minutes under monotonous driving conditions, such as motorwaysor highways. The researchers found that it was harder for participants to hold astraight line while driving when they were sleep deprived thanafter a normal night of sleep. Furthermore, they found it harder tocontrol their speed when driving in monotonous conditions. Dr. S gol ne Arzalier-Daret, from the Department ofAnaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Caen Teaching Hospital, Caen,France, hopes that results from this study increase awareness amongmedical staff about the dangers of driving when sleep deprived. Dr. Arzalier-Daret will present her findings at the annualconference of the European Society of Anesthesiology, Sunday June10. "Sleepiness at the wheel is a public health problem in France, thefirst cause of death on the autoroute network in 2009, andresponsible for many crashes in towns the same year. There havebeen a number of campaigns to promote knowledge of this problem,but these statistics show us that there is a long way to go," saidDr. Arzalier-Daret The team also examined how fast participants reacted, number ofcrashes in urban conditions, average speed, variations in speed inautoroute conditions, as well as the deviation of lateral position(failure to keep a straight line). Dr. Arzalier-Daret, explained: "We found that there weredifferences between those who had had a normal sleep and those whowere sleep-deprived because of working overnight. In urban conditions, sleep-deprived drivers drove at an average of2km per hour slower than those who had had a normal night's sleep,perhaps because they were aware that their driving skills mighthave been affected. Lateral deviation and speed variations were more significant insleep-deprived drivers under monotonous conditions that in thosewho had slept normally. We know from official statistics that roadaccidents peak between 8 and 9 am, so it is particularly worryingthat the trainees normally finish their shift around this time." According to the researchers, medical staff who are regularly oncall at night often experience chronic sleep deprivation. Theystate that medical staff should be allowed to sleep in the hospitalbefore they drive home, especially if they live over 20 minutesaway. Dr. Arzalier-Daret said: "The differences in driving skills between those who were sleepdeprived and those who were not appeared after 20 minutes (lateraldeviation) and 30 minutes (speed), and we believe that staff wholive further than 20 minutes' drive from their place of work shouldhave the opportunity to rest before taking the wheel after a shiftof night duty." Although coffee can help avoid drowsiness, it would be safer forthese staff if their employers provided a taxi home, as somehospitals do in the United States. In addition, reducing the numberof hours worked consecutively would also help, but this couldresult in staffing shortages. Canada has cut night duty hours from24 to 16. Dr. Arzalier-Daret explained: "Car manufacturers and road authorities can also play their part,by making electronic systems to alert the driver to sidewaysmovement of their vehicle more widely available, changing roadmarkings and installing bands that give off audible warnings when adriver accidentally enters the hard shoulder." Even though participants simulated driving in the study, the teambelieve that these results would be similar in real life. The researchers also found that: 13% of participants reported falling asleep at the wheel afternight duty 11% had a accident after their night shift 6% of participants said their accident was due to falling asleep The researchers highlight that drivers are not always conscious offalling asleep at the wheel, if the sleep episode is very brief. Dr. Arzalier-Daret said: "Personally, I don't like driving home after work after a nightshift, though I only live five minutes away. Even though our studydidn't show any definitive proof that driving conduct was alteredin town, as opposed to on the autoroute, I know that I have drivenon autopilot and haven't remembered anything about the journey whenI arrived home. And epidemiological studies show that fatalaccidents due to somnolence mainly happen in town and on shortjourneys. I hope that our work will help to raise awareness of the dangers ofdriving when tired, and that employers of those who have to worknight shifts will take measures to protect their staff from thesedangers." Written By Grace Rattue Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today Additional References Citations. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Yokogawa Tension Meter Manufacturer , Ceramic Guide Eyelet Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Magnetic Wire Tensioner.
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