Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/103431
Health Tips Drowsy Driving Education Offered Online For Commercial Drivers SAFE-T is a free tutorial available at aasmnet.org L JOBS for TEAMS ong an advocate of safe transportation through rested and alert commercial operators, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is now offering a free online presentation for truckers describing the signs, causes and effects of driver fatigue and some strategies to manage it. SAFE-T: Sleep, Alertness and Fatigue Education for Truckers is available at www. aasmnet.org/safet. The presentation also is on YouTube to share or embed. The 23-minute narrated slide presentation explores the causes of driver fatigue, such as working outside of a typical nine-to-five schedule or working unpredictable schedules.The presentation also discusses good sleep strategies for the road or at home to help manage fatigue. Planning sleep breaks and the timing of sleep breaks, managing offhour responsibilities, and improving sleep environments are among the tips given. "It is vital that commercial operators understand fatigue and risks of driving while tired," said AASM President Sam Fleishman, MD."Drivers need to be alert to operate their vehicles safely. Reduced alertness levels not only put their lives at risk but also jeopardize the safety of others on the road." According to a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, an estimated 16.5 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States from 1999-2008 involved a fatigued driver. And studies have shown that the effects of sleep loss are similar to having | 36 JobsForTeams0213_HealthHelp.indd 1 www.jobsforteams.com 1/3/13 3:00 PM