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Fatigue, Sleep & Medications (FSM)

Course Description

This one-day seminar will assist attendees in understanding how medications, sleep patterns / disorders  decrease situational awareness. Basic information on the sleep and fatigue will be dicussed. Participants will review the effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications on piloting performance and fatigue. Additionally, positive and negative utilization of caffeine / energy drinks as a stimulant will be discussed. 

Pre-requisites- There are none for this course. This course is taught onsite at MITAGS, but customized versions are available. Please call for more information.

What You Will Learn

• Discuss pertinent NTSB accident findings leading to M-97-41, 44, & 45.
• Appreciate how the use of "over-the-counter," and herbal medication(s) are addressed in the new Coast Guard medical standards (NVIC 04-08).
• Understand circadian rhythms & relationship to work schedules.
• List the five normal sleep stages.
• Appreciate concept of ‘sleep debt.’
• List at least three types of sleep problems and their possible effects on safety.
• Appreciate the need to effectively communicate with their health care provider(s) and/or pharmacist.
• Use either the federal or State regulation references regarding schedules of Controlled Substances.
• Discuss with their health care provider or pharmacist the possible effects of those medications on their ability to pilot a vessel.
• Use standard patient information, package inserts or other reference materials, discuss with their health care provider or pharmacist the possible effects of prescribed (other than Controlled Substances) medications, over-the-counter, or herbal supplements on their ability to pilot a vessel.
• Understand at least three potential effects of medications and herbal supplements on sleep and alertness.
• Develop at least four personal fatigue countermeasures.
• Evaluate the use of caffeine / energy drinks as an alertness tool.

Students who attended a 3½ hour program offered by the Maritime Advancement, Training, Education and Safety Program through the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies designed to support most of the safety and performance recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board regarding sleep disorders, the effects of fatigue on performance (M-97-44), and medical conditions, symptoms, or medication use that could possibly affect an individual’s fitness to operate vessel (M-97-45). 

This course can be taught offsite and / or combined with other training.  Evening session available.