In flight operations, this degradation in mental capacity is often exhibited by missed checklist items, faulty flight planning, activating the wrong switch, or seemingly intentional violation of basic rules and regulations. It can affect an entire crew so that no one acts as a safety valve to question the errors when things are obviously becoming unsafe. Minor discomfort, confusion, disorientation, and memory loss are some of the earliest signs that heat is beginning to cause serious problems. Be aware that even relatively mild heat stress can impair performance enough to tip the balance toward failure. The effects of heat and heat-related casualties are preventable, but it requires the combined efforts of everyone to achieve the goal.
Air bags are effective safety devices.
From their introduction in the late 1980's through 1997, air bags have saved nearly 3000 people. The number of people saved increases each year as air bags become more common on America's roads. For some people, these life saving and injury-preventing benefits come at the cost of a less severe injury caused by the air bag itself. Most air bag injuries are minor cuts, bruises, or abrasions and are far less serious than the skull fractures and brain injuries that air bags prevent. However, nearly 100 people have been killed by air bags as of today.