Incidence of barotrauma in the formation of cadets aviators in the Brazilian air force

Abstract

Middle ear barotrauma is a pathology that can occur due to ineffective equalization between the external and internal pressures of the middle ear and can be caused by everyday conditions, which we sometimes do not notice before a flight. It is important to instruct the aviators to identify conditions that expose them to this pathology in order to make their instructions at the Air Force Academy (AFA This study aims to measure the level of consciousness of the cadets on the subject, the recurrence of conditions that lead to the emergence of barotraumas, and the preventive measures used. A questionnaire with seven questions about barotrauma knowledge was applied to a sample of 40 Cadet Aviators of the second Squadron in 2023. All these cadets were conducting the Air training course when they answered the questionnaire. All were questioned as to their knowledge of barotrauma, symptoms, procedures for relief and treatment. The results showed that although cadets have broad knowledge on the subject, and more than half of those questioned admit to performing instructional flights in non-ideal health conditions. This behavior, besides greatly increasing the risk of occurrence of a barotrauma, shows that a preventive culture is not being cultivated in the cadets. It is necessary to reaffirm the dangers of a barotrauma during the training of cadets who are going to begin flight instruction. Cadet awareness of pathologies involving air activity is important to everyone, as it is, a matter of flight safety.