Inflight Hyperventilation | Excerpts from AIM

From Medical Facts for Pilots Chapter of the FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)

Mar 2014

Abbreviated Briefing:
  • Differentiating Hypoxia from Hyperventillation while airborne can be difficult in the early stages 
  • Both may present with increased respiratory rate and volume
  • The 2 conditions can coexist
  • Assume the worse during the initial response
  • If available, provide the hypoxia treatment first: administer supplemental oxygen for passengers or crew (or yourself)
  • If Hyperventillation is confirmed, treat with traditional methods to increase CO2:

    • reassurance
    • slow rate and depth of respiration
    • recycle breaths  (breath in paper bag)
    • sip water to help slow breaths per minute rate

 

Guidelines below are customized by FlightPhysical.com from FAA instructions specified in the 2014 Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), the FAA's Official Guide to Basic Flight Information and ATC Procedures. Latest Web currency verification was Mar 2014.

a. Hyperventilation, or an abnormal increase in the volume of air breathed in and out of the lungs, can occur subconsciously when a stressful situation is encountered in flight. As hyperventilation "blows off" excessive carbon dioxide from the body, a pilot can experience symptoms of lightheadedness, suffocation, drowsiness, tingling in the extremities, and coolness and react to them with even greater hyperventilation. Incapacitation can eventually result from incoordination, disorientation, and painful muscle spasms. Finally, unconsciousness can occur.

b. The symptoms of hyperventilation subside within a few minutes after the rate and depth of breathing are consciously brought back under control. The buildup of carbon dioxide in the body can be hastened by controlled breathing in and out of a paper bag held over the nose and mouth.

c. Early symptoms of hyperventilation and hypoxia are similar. Moreover, hyperventilation and hypoxia can occur at the same time. Therefore, if a pilot is using an oxygen system when symptoms are experienced, the oxygen regulator should immediately be set to deliver 100 percent oxygen, and then the system checked to assure that it has been functioning effectively before giving attention to rate and depth of breathing.

Content Derived from FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM): Chapter 8, Section 3 paragraph: 8-3-3
AIM reference current through Change 3 Aug 22, 2013, Web Accessed 20 Mar 2014

Related Chapters from the AIM:
Safety (Chap 7) | Medical Facts for Pilots (Chap 8)

Commentary:

  • Differentiating Hypoxia from Hyperventillation while airborne can be difficult in the early stages 
  • Both may present with increased respiratory rate and volume
  • The 2 conditions can coexist
  • Assume the worse during the initial response
  • If available, provide the hypoxia treatment first: administer supplemental oxygen for passengers or crew (or yourself)
  • If Hyperventillation is confirmed, treat with traditional methods to increase CO2:

    • reassurance
    • slow rate and depth of respiration
    • recycle breaths  (breath in paper bag)
    • sip water to help slow breaths per minute rate

 

— FlightPhysical.com

This page discussed Inflight Hyperventilation from Medical Facts for Pilots Chapter of the FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).