We all know the saying to help us remember to adjust our clocks for the daylight savings time changes (this Sunday in case you are wondering). But, what can we do to help workers adjust to the effects of the time change? A few studies have examined these issues but many questions remain on this topic including the best strategies to cope with the time changes.
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| English: An advisory sign on Interstate 15 in Utah near Mt. Nebo. It reminds drowsy drivers to get off the freeway. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
By Tara Culp-Ressler on December 5, 2013 at 2:21 pm
"Sleep Deprivation Is A Public Health Issue That’s Deadlier Than You Think"  Indeed, by some researchers’ estimations, “drowsy driving” is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Both can double the risk of a traffic accident, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about 100,000 of the annual car crashes in the U.S. directly result from driver fatigue. Teens are particularly at risk for driving while drowsy, a reality that’s led some parents to push to start high school later in the day. The issue is especially serious among transportation workers, who often literally have hundreds of lives in their hands. According to the Huffington Post, multiple public transportation accidents — not just on trains, but also on buses and airplanes — have been attributed to sleep-deprivation over the past decade. According to a 2012 survey from the National Sleep Foundation, about one fourth of these workers admit that a lack of sleep has affected their recent job performance. And many of them also acknowledge that this issue... |
DID YOU KNOW? 100,000 crashes each year are caused by fatigued drivers55% of drowsy driving crashes are caused by drivers less than 25 years oldBeing awake for 18 hours is equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, which is legally drunk and leaves you at equal risk for a crash How can you tell if you are “driving while drowsy”? Here are some signs that should tell a driver to stop and rest:* Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids* Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts* Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs* Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes* Trouble keeping your head up* Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip* Feeling restless and irritable Are You at Risk? Before you drive, check to see if you are:* Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk)* Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt* Driving long distances without proper rest breaks* Driving through the night, mid afternoon or when you would normally be asleep* Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)* Working more than 60 hours a week (increases your risk by 40%)* Working more than one job and your main job involves shift work* Drinking even small amounts of alcohol* Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road Specific At-Risk Groups The risk of having a crash due to drowsy driving is not... |
) and CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/sleep).
