[The organization of medical care for those with mild illness and infectious pathology in aviation commands in wartime]

Infectious diseases are the major cause of casualties in aviation in war time. The present system of casualty staging for infectious patients in an air force doesn't give the possibility for the AF Command and its medical service to execute stable control over minimally sick pilots and aviation technicians with infectious pathology who abandon the air force tactical zone. This fact delays their return to duty. The authors propose to alter the system of casualty staging for these patients by providing medical care right during the stages of medical evacuation.

Space radiobiology program in Russia

The space radiobiology program in Russia is aimed at obtaining fundamental data for developing radiation safety criteria. These criteria are necessary for long-term space missions. This program includes : -substantiation of radiation hazard estimation principles based on the radiation risk conception, -investigation of the radiation affection regularities under the combined influence of the spaceflight factors, -experimental investigation of the HZE-particle delayed effects and acute somatic effects induced by protons and electrons, -individual radiosensitivity investigation, -mathematic modeling of radiobiological effects , -radiobiological basis of control and forecast of radiation influence in space, -development of methods and means of an organism's radioresistance increase.

[The principles of organizing medical care for the minor casualties of Air Force units under battle conditions]

The article describes methodological aspects of medical care to minor wounded of the Air Force servicemen in the conditions of modern war. There are data concerning the scale and structure of sanitary losses among the minimally wounded of an Air Army, as well as proposals concerning the optimal utilization of the military field air force hospitals in the conditions of the modern war front defence operation.

Emergency medical operations at Kennedy Space Center in support of space shuttle

The unique environment of the Kennedy Space Center includes a wide variety of industrial processes culminating in launch and spaceflight. Many are potentially hazardous to the work force and the astronauts. Technology, planning, training, and quality control are utilized to prevent contingencies and expedite response should a contingency occur.

Challenges of space medical operations and life sciences management

The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has been the premier launch and landing site for America's space program since the early 1960s. Visitors are cognizant of space vehicles, processing facilities and launch pads which are treasured national resources. However, most are unaware of the unique organization which supports launch and landing activities and manages the center's occupational medicine, environmental health, ecological and environmental monitoring functions, as well as human and plant research programs. Management of this multifaceted organization can be complex because funding its different functions comes from a number of sources. Additionally the diverse disciplines of personnel present a special challenge in maintaining professional competencies while assuring efficiency in cyclical operations. This article explains the organization's structure and reviews some of its accomplishments.

Flight physiology. Clinical considerations

Altitude-related complications and the stresses of flight represent the components of flight physiology. Understanding the complexities associated with patient management relative to barometric pressure changes and hypoxia is of paramount concern to air medical personnel. This article reviews flight physiology as well as appropriate precautions and interventions that must be practiced to provide optimal patient care at various altitudes.

A brief history of trying: man, NASA, and medicine

The development of the V2 rocket during World War II raised the possibility of manned spaceflight to the level of "serious consideration." Concepts of aviation medicine led to the specialty of space medicine. Projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo-Soyuz, and the Space Transportation System have helped us gain important biomedical information, including but not limited to, microgravity and its effects on red cell mass, orthostatic tolerance, exercise capacity, bone density, and muscle nitrogen levels. Problems of "space motion sickness" and micro-organisms in space have become major concerns. This analytic review covers these topics and relevant others.

[Prospects for use of computers in the Air Force medical service]

The article describes the questions for the formation of the Automated Control Sub-system of the AF Medical service (ACS AF MS) and shows basic trends towards its creation. The authors take into account specific peculiarities of the Air Force activities, as well as the modern standards of automated systems. The ACS AF MS must be integrated to the Joint Automated Control System of the Armed Forces Medical Service. The article gives the main functions of this sub-system, its information and program procedure, computer technique fitting out process for command installations. The main tasks of the whole chain of command of AF Medical service were also analysed.

Emergency in the clouds

With more than 1,000 medical emergencies occurring each year on domestic flights, the chances of being called upon to assist one of these victims is soaring. What resources are available to healthcare providers 35,000 feet in the air?

Emergency medical care on space stations

This Note emphasizes the need, in a space station, of an emergency room, especially equipped with regard to clean air and competent paramedical personnel. The establishment of some degree of artificial gravity is desirable.