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Saint Barnabas Medical Center Reminds Drivers to Stay Alert During the Holiday Season Livingston, N.J.- As holiday travelers take to the roads this holiday season, The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) cautions drivers to be especially alert behind the wheel. Many travelers will face winter weather conditions and earlier sunsets that can compromise visibility, making safe driving difficult for even the most alert driver. And the typical activities of the holiday season may mean more stress, more fatigue, and more sleepiness for millions of people. What it shouldn’t mean is more people being sleepy behind the wheel. According to NSF’s 2005 Sleep in America poll, about 6 out of 10 adults licensed to drive say they have driven a motor vehicle while feeling drowsy….that’s some 118 million people putting themselves and others at risk on our nation’s local roads and major highways. Four percent of adult licensed drivers – about 8 million people – have actually had a crash or near miss because they dozed off or were drowsy while driving, according to the poll findings. “Being drowsy behind the wheel can have the same effects as being drunk,” warns Mangala Nadkarni, M.D., Medical Director of The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders at Saint Barnabas. “But if you’re sleep deprived and have a few drinks, then get behind the wheel, the results can be especially dangerous, if not deadly.” In fact, 24 hours without sleep has a similar effect to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent, more than the legal threshold for drunken driving in many states, Dr. Nadkarni notes. “Too often, people will stay out late at holiday gatherings and rise early to travel the next morning. Long stretches behind the wheel, coupled with lack of sleep, can cause severe impairment,” says Dr. Nadkarni. There are several signs to indicate fatigue while driving, though many people may not associate the symptoms with fatigue or sleepiness and continue to drive when they should stop. Here are some signs that should tell a driver to stop and rest:
“It’s important to recognize these signs and find a safe place to stop. When possible, have a companion take over the driving,” says Dr. Nadkarni. “Caffeine from coffee or energy drinks can promote short-term alertness, but it takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to enter the bloodstream; take a 15-20 minute nap while waiting for the caffeine to kick in.” The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders offers a full range of services used in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of sleep-related disorders in adults and children. The Center is equipped with the latest in monitoring equipment, providing the opportunity for daytime testing and full overnight sleep studies. For more information about sleep disorders or The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, please call November 10, 2006 CONTACT: PUBLIC RELATIONS (973) 322-9901 [ top ] |
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