3. The average American sleeps less than 7 hours.
37% Of adults say they are so tired during the day, it interferes
with daily activities.
35% Of adults nap at least once during the week.
Approximately 30 million Americans are victims of a sleep
disorder called Obstructive sleep apnea.
4. What is OSA: Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
People with OSA experience
recurrent episodes during sleep
where their throat closes and they
cannot bring air into their lungs.
This happens because the muscles
that normally hold the throat open,
relax during sleep and narrow.
These cessations can last as long as
two minutes; as long as the
individual is asleep the apnea
continues. Arousal or wakefulness
occurs and the tongue and throat
muscles enlarge the airway, allowing
air back into the lungs. All occurs
with out ones knowledge.
5. Depending on the degree of severity, OSA is a potentially life-
threatening condition. Someone who has undiagnosed OSA, is
likely to have a heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest during sleep,
or a harmful accident.
In addition, awakening to breathe some hundreds of times in a
single night cause the victim to become sleep deprived. There is
a constant risk of serious accidents such as falling asleep while
driving as well as impaired function in the workplace and in
personal relationships.
6. Some symptoms of OSA:
Fatigues and tiredness Reduced sex drive and
during the day. impotence.
Loud snoring; if snoring is Dry mouth upon
punctuated by brief wakening.
periods of silence or Morning headaches.
choking sounds, OSA is a Rapid weight gain.
certainty.
Frequent nocturnal
Obesity. urination.
Thick neck. Memory lapses.
High blood pressure. Difficulty concentrating.
Depressed mood. Irritability.
7. 15 Hours sustained wakefulness produces performance
impairment = .05% BAC.
24 Hours = .10% BAC.
People with mild to moderate untreated sleep apnea
performed worse than those with a 0.06% BAC.
On 4 hours of sleep, 1 beer can have the impact of a six-pack.
8. Drowsy Driving National Statistics
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
estimates:
100,000 police-reported crashes annually
1,550 fatalities (4%)
71,000 injuries
$12.5 billion in monetary losses
1 million -1/6 off crashes are linked to inattention.
9. Percent Reporting Their Experiences While Driving During the Past Year (% Yes)
57%
62%
Driven a vehicle 51%
53%
while feeling drowsy 51%
42%*
48%*
60%
1998
1999
23%
27%
Dozed off while at 2000
17%
2001
the wheel of a vehicle 19%
17% 2002
12%*
10%* 2003
37%*
2004
2005
1%
2%
Had an accident
1%
because they dozed off
1%
or were too tired
1%
1%*
1%*
4%*
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
11. Most happen between midnight -6:00 am & in mid-afternoon
(circadian dip).
The driver is alone & more likely to be male.
A single vehicle drifts off the road & hits a stationary object.
Most are rear-end or head-on collisions.
Many involve serious injuries and/or fatalities.
There is no evidence of breaking or evasive maneuvers – no skid
markings.
12. Factors of Accidents due to
Sleepiness
Occupational Factors
People with more than one job are 2x more likely to have a crash related to
sleep.
Working night shift increase risk by 6x
Working more than 60hrs. Per week increases risk 40%
Amount of Sleep
One fourth of drivers in sleep-related crashes & 1.3 of drivers fatigue-related
crashes got less than 6 hours of sleep.
Sleep Quality & Sleep Disorders
Drivers in crashes were 2x more likely to mention that they got inadequate
sleep.
Few drivers reported having a diagnosed sleep disorder –problem with public
education?
13.
14. F.M.C.S.A Investigation into Sleep
Testing
Sleep apnea and driving is a volatile mix. Affected patients are 2 to
7 times more likely to be in an at-fault motor vehicle accident.
Properly screening all commercial drivers for sleep apnea can
prevent many traffic accident and save lives.
Updated screening guidelines for obstructive sleep apnea in
commercial drivers call for physicians to increase awareness of
the prevalence of sleep apnea in the general public as well as
among professional drivers.
Those with OSA can still be medically qualified to drive a
commercial vehicle if they do not meet the risk criteria for a
traffic accident , or if they have documentation of their
compliance with CPAP.
15. CDL Medical Rules Go To White
House
The following recommendations went under counsel to the White House on September 3,
2008 and are currently waiting from the final approval to become law.
•General Guidance, A diagnosis of OSA precludes an individual from obtaining an
unconditional certification to drive a CMV.
•Drivers who should be disqualified or denied certification if they have reported
having sleepiness while driving or have had a crash associated with falling asleep.
•Conditional Certification for individuals with OSA can conditionally be allowed to
drive a CMV with a minimal CPAP compliance greater than 4 hours per day for 70% of
days.
•Referral for confirmation of diagnosis of severity, for individuals who under certain
criteria will be required to undergo an evaluation to confirm the diagnosis of, and if
necessary to stratify the severity of OSA.
•Identification of individuals with undiagnosed OSA. Medical examiners should
actively screen for OSA in all individuals who request fitness for duty cert. for the
purpose of driving a CMV.
16. •Method of diagnosis & severity; the preferred method of diagnosis and assessment
of severity is an overnight PSG.
•Treatment of OSA- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP machines). The
CPAP is the preferred method of therapy. Treatments with CPAP must demonstrate
compliance and be documented objectively.
•Alternatives to CPAP, dental appliances and/or surgery are considered to be
potential alternatives to CPAP for the treatment of OSA.
•Bariatric Surgery; re-evaluation by sleep study within 2 years required if they are
NOT on CPAP therapy.
•Oropharyngal, Tracheostomy, & Facial bone surgeries, maybe certified if cleared
by a certified treating clinician.
17. MySleepApnea, as a provider will customize
programs to keep you running safely & smoothly.
18. Let us show you the benefits!
Great Financial Savings: You can save money on
your insurance premiums, help reduce your fees due to
any fatigue related infrastructure.
Healthy Choices: Keeping your drivers safe & alert is
the key. We can help by providing healthy alternatives
to reduce the risk of sleep/fatigue related crashes.
YOUR Company Aspects: Each company has its own
individual needs for compliance. MySleepApnea is
designed to provide everything you need from testing
equipment to final reports of compliance.
19. o Sleep Testing: We provide portable Polysomnography
(PSG). This test can be taken anytime, anywhere.
o Diagnosis: Simply send back the PSG to our facility. The
clinical data is read and interpreted by our Certified Sleep
Clinician, and treatment modality is recommended.
o Treatment: It is proven that CPAP machines are the most
effective methods of treatment. CPAP has been identified as
the only treatment demonstrated to reduce crash risk.
o Compliance: We will also keep your recommended
compliances up to code with your diagnosed drivers.
20. When treated, drivers afflicted by sleep apnea feel better,
thus makes sense that their productivity would
increase.
When you sleep better, you work better.
Create the security in a sleep apnea program & help the
retention in your fleet fostering the sense:
“My company care about my health & safety by
investing in me”
Safe & healthy drivers are your companies greatest asset.
