Dana Air, based in Lagos, Nigeria, first began operating in 2008. On June 3, Dana Air flight 0992 crashed, killing 153 passengers and crew as well as at least 10 individuals on the ground. In response, Nigerian aviation officials have suspended the airline's operating license. A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority in Nigeria indicated that the license will be reinstated if the airline is capable of completing the recertification process.
Surgeons May Still Be Too Fatigued, Despite New Regulations
A study of orthopedic surgical residents in two Boston hospitals analyzed the impact fatigue had on performance, as well as the frequency with which new surgeons worked while tired. The study participants averaged 5.3 hours of sleep per day. When the results of the residents were compared to a group of well-rested residents, it was shown that the sleep-deprived group was operating at 70 percent mental effectiveness. The researchers calculated that 70 percent effectiveness equated to a 22 percent greater chance of committing a medical error than an alert and properly rested physician.
NTSB Releases Tour Helicopter Crash Information
On December 8, we blogged about a tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four passengers and the pilot who were on route to the Hoover Dam. The National Transportation Safety Board has now opened the public docket concerning this tragic aviation accident. While the docket does not contain the NTSB analysis of the crash, it does contain numerous photographs and documents that shed further light on the events surrounding the deadly incident.
A Simple Solution to a Serious Medical Error
A 2009 quality-improvement program conducted at Children's Hospital in Colorago identified misplaced orders as the second most common reason why care is provided to the wrong patient. Misplaced orders have been decreased as a result of the program, dropping from 12 incidents in 2010 to 3 incidents one year later.
Teens Can Help Other Teens Avoid Distracted Driving
Though it is often cited as a major contributor to unsafe behavior among teens, peer pressure can also be a tool for positive change. Consumer Reports recently released a study indicating that peer pressure is increasingly being used to stop teen drivers from texting while driving. While teen drivers still suffer elevated rates of fatal car crashes, particularly when other teens are in the car with them, the results might show that efforts to accurately portray the dangers of distracted driving are working.
