Thanks for sharing and clarifying
SFU facial hair study
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Re: SFU facial hair study
SFU was kind enough to provide me with the abstract from their research. They offered the full technical report as well but this is sufficient for me.
The Efficacy of Oxygen Delivery Masks for Commercial Pilots with Facial Hair
P.I. Sherri Ferguson, Director Environmental Medicine and Physiology Unit, SFU Faculty of Science (data collection, protocol development)
Co-P.I. Dan Warkander, SFU Visiting Faculty, Faculty of Science, & University of Buffalo – Center for Research and Education in Special Environments. (protocol
development)
Faculty Supervisor: Sam Doesburg, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, SFU
Collaborator: Evan Hutcheon, MSc. Candidate. (data collection, report writing)
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The current policies in Canada for commercial pilots to be clean shaven is based on outdated research done in the 1970’s. Some countries allow commercial pilots to operate commercial aircraft with a beard; however, no research has been done on current equipment and its efficacy with a bearded user. This study looked at the efficacy of two masks currently in use on commercial aircraft with bearded users.
METHODS: We measured participants different beard lengths (i.e. <0.5cm, 0.5-12.5cm, and >12.5cm). We then tested the masks at 4 altitudes (i.e. 10,000 ft, 17,000 ft, 20,000 ft, 25,000 ft) and whether they protected against noxious gas exposure (i.e. stannic chloride).
RESULTS: We found that that all participants were unable to detect the noxious gas while wearing a mask, and that none of the participants blood oxygen saturation levels dropped below 93%. Reassuringly, 27 participants had a lowest blood oxygen saturation level of 98% or greater, one participant’s lowest blood oxygenation level was 97%, and another participant had a lowest blood oxygen level of 93%.
DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that the current masks maintain efficacy for hypoxia prevention and ensure no inward air or fumes into the mask when used at altitudes up to 25,000’ even with a bearded user. Further testing should be done to determine the additional gas requirements if any when used in emergency mode to ensure sufficient autonomy in the worst case scenario. In addition testing should be done to determine adequate pressure can be achieved to protect against hypoxia at altitudes above 36,000’ ASL.
Re: SFU facial hair study
Excellent, thank you for this infoA-Team wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:21 pm SFU was kind enough to provide me with the abstract from their research. They offered the full technical report as well but this is sufficient for me.
The Efficacy of Oxygen Delivery Masks for Commercial Pilots with Facial Hair
P.I. Sherri Ferguson, Director Environmental Medicine and Physiology Unit, SFU Faculty of Science (data collection, protocol development)
Co-P.I. Dan Warkander, SFU Visiting Faculty, Faculty of Science, & University of Buffalo – Center for Research and Education in Special Environments. (protocol
development)
Faculty Supervisor: Sam Doesburg, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, SFU
Collaborator: Evan Hutcheon, MSc. Candidate. (data collection, report writing)
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The current policies in Canada for commercial pilots to be clean shaven is based on outdated research done in the 1970’s. Some countries allow commercial pilots to operate commercial aircraft with a beard; however, no research has been done on current equipment and its efficacy with a bearded user. This study looked at the efficacy of two masks currently in use on commercial aircraft with bearded users.
METHODS: We measured participants different beard lengths (i.e. <0.5cm, 0.5-12.5cm, and >12.5cm). We then tested the masks at 4 altitudes (i.e. 10,000 ft, 17,000 ft, 20,000 ft, 25,000 ft) and whether they protected against noxious gas exposure (i.e. stannic chloride).
RESULTS: We found that that all participants were unable to detect the noxious gas while wearing a mask, and that none of the participants blood oxygen saturation levels dropped below 93%. Reassuringly, 27 participants had a lowest blood oxygen saturation level of 98% or greater, one participant’s lowest blood oxygenation level was 97%, and another participant had a lowest blood oxygen level of 93%.
DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that the current masks maintain efficacy for hypoxia prevention and ensure no inward air or fumes into the mask when used at altitudes up to 25,000’ even with a bearded user. Further testing should be done to determine the additional gas requirements if any when used in emergency mode to ensure sufficient autonomy in the worst case scenario. In addition testing should be done to determine adequate pressure can be achieved to protect against hypoxia at altitudes above 36,000’ ASL.
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