A special guest post from Kevin Bedell with the FMH Center for Advanced Sleep Studies:
This week, November 12-18, 2012, has been declared Drowsy Driving Prevention Week© by the National Sleep Foundation. This annual campaign provides public education about the under-reported risks of driving while drowsy and countermeasures to improve safety on the road. Often, drowsy driving can be a symptom of an untreated sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the general population, nearly 5% of respondents reported that, at least once in the preceding 30 days, they had fallen asleep or nodded off while driving. Results of a questionnaire administered at truck inspection stations in several U.S. states indicated that 28% of commercial motor vehicle drivers acknowledged that at least once during the preceding month, they had fallen asleep while driving.
In support of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, the FMH Center for Advanced Sleep Studies is pleased to announce the launch of its Commercial Driver Sleep Testing Program. Drivers who operate tractor-trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles are held to high standards of professionalism and safety. This makes it particularly important to diagnose and treat drivers who may be at risk for obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders that can cause drowsy driving.
The Commercial Driver Sleep Testing Program is specifically tailored to meet the needs of commercial drivers and their employers. FMH will provide sleep testing for drivers in a way that fits with their schedules and can even provide parking for commercial vehicles. If a driver is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, FMH will arrange for the setup of CPAP therapy with an equipment company that is convenient to his or her location.
In addition, FMH can assist transportation companies with promoting healthy sleep and developing ways to identify employees at risk for sleep disorders. Studies have shown that drivers who successfully treat their sleep apnea have a decreased risk of accidents and can significantly improve their health and the cost of their healthcare.
For more information about the Commercial Driver Sleep Testing Program, contact the FMH Center for Advanced Sleep Studies at 240-566-4829.
