Airmen most likely to faint under the needle

[unhappycamper]

Airmen most likely to faint under the needle
Staff report
Posted : Monday Nov 3, 2008 14:33:45 EST

Feeling woozy after your latest round of immunization shots? Then you’re probably a male airman.

Ten years of records showed that 2,612 service members passed out cold — and fell down — after a nurse slowly inserted a thin half-inch of steel into their biceps or buttocks.

Data from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center shows that the rate of airmen who fell out was twice that of soldiers and sailors — Marines fall in between — and that twice as many men as women were among the fainthearted. The overall numbers also are rising; today’s service members are 2½ times more likely to faint from getting a shot than they were in 1998.

Possibly worse than the risk of ridicule is the risk of injury, the report states, “particularly when collapse leads to forceful contact between the face or skull ... and a sharp or solid object nearby.” Researchers found 150 examples of fractures, brain injuries, open wounds, contusions, sprains and strains.

Fainting occurs when blood vessels dilate and blood pressure decreases among people who stand for too long, don’t like the sight of blood or fear pain, experts say.


Article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/airforce_fainting_110308/%2e

[billyoc]

1. "Possibly worse than the risk of ridicule is the risk of injury..."

:rofl:

[av8rdave]

2. Guess we're the wimps! LOL

Funny...I've never come close to fainting for any reason except once.

I was at the Academy, playing a handball match with my instructor. Not being the most graceful athlete, I lunged towards the left wall to make a "backhand" shot (really no such thing in handball, but I'm right handed). With my full weight behind me, I smashed my hand fingers first into the wall. My instructor served and we continued the game, until I noticed a "squishy" feeling in my glove and the pain began to set in. Turns out I had partially separated three fingernails, and the glove was full of....well, you get the picture.

At the dispensary, I stood next to a table and watched as the Doctor began removing pieces of fingernail with tweezers. As I watched him work, I suddenly felt a wave of lightheadedness. After a few seconds, he looked up at me and said, "are you all right, Mister?" "Sir, I have GOT to sit down!"

I was fine after I sat down. I never actually fainted, but it was close.

Oh, yeah....I missed the shot!

[sarge43]

3. Waiting for grunts, swabs, gyrines and coasties

to yell, "Whadda expect from zoomies? They're wimps." AF TIs routinely take small paper bags along on shot day for the inevitable hyperventers.

[unhappycamper]

4. I've always been queezy around needles.

I'm good with first aid and emergencies, but I suck when a needle comes near me. :deepbreath:

[TahitiNut]

5. I don't like shots. I don't like shots. Arghhh.

I haven't fainted ... yet. But ... I don't like shots. Needles. Ugh.

[Crowman1979]

6. I live for that pain!

Of course I'm a former Marine, I tend to be masochistic that way. Heck, I look straight at that F***in needle! LOL