Wake-Sleep Cycle Management during SUSOPS and CONOPS in French Military Forces: Policy and Ethics
Abstract
The consequences of sleep deprivation and of wake-sleep cycle alterations have been studied since more than 25 years in military domain. Nevertheless this point of view has only recently been taken into account by the French different headquarters. That is why the French Military Health Service has progressively built a real policy for managing the wake-sleep cycle during SUSOPS and CONOPS. This policy has two main aspects, with an educational and a pharmacological part. The consequences of sleep deprivation, and irregular sleep-wake cycle on physical and cognitive performances during SUSOPS and CONOPS have been studied extensively. Now, the different types of countermeasures are quite well defined. A policy to manage these aspects on operational field is under development in France with two distinct aspects on based on health education and on pharmacology. The educational policy is based on knowledge delivered to our forces by the mean of an interactive CD-ROM. The first version, called CYCL'OPS(trademark), has been developed by ADSENSIO for the pilots of the French Air force. Its goal is to improve individual knowledge in this domain and to show the risk of sleepiness at the throttle according to the timing of the mission taking into account individual parameters. It may allow a better individual management of sleep-wake cycle every day. Other versions are under project for the Navy, and the Army. A light pharmacological aid is now officially approved by the French Health Service in operational field when the missions do not allow nocturnal sleep or only offer reduced possibility of sleep. Modafinil is reserved for emergency cases. It may help valid subjects to stay awake in hostile environments until the SAR means take them in charge. On the contrary, Slow-release caffeine may be used in prolonged missions (CONOPS) to fight against sleepiness for 48 hours. Finally, Z-hypnotics are also allowed to promote pre-planned sleep episodes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA567875
Entities
People
- Didier Lagarde
- Olivier Coste
- Patrick Remont