THERE Is A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT SLEEPINESS SO… DON’T FALL ASLEEP WHILE READING IT.
We may be repeating our-self sometimes but it is because it is a subject that is not really understood by teenagers.
Go, Oscar GO!
Get your ZZZZs
Leave in Time. Be Safe!
What do you do when your iPhone batteries are dying?
You could not leave without a phone, so you recharge it before it dies, right?
SAME THING FOR YOUR BRAIN
When your batteries are drained, get some sleep to recharge them.
SURRENDER TO FATIGUE:
You cannot fight tiredness. Nothing can help you escape. Stop driving at once but don’t be ashamed. Admitting being tired is not a weakness but a strength of character.
Your brain’s rechargeable batteries are dead, you need to spend the night recharging it, same as your iPhone!!!!
But it is very sneaky because your eyes may be opened but your brain does not read the messages.
Hibernate for a while, you will emerge a regenerated Human!
We have learned that Like alcohol, fatigue is only corrected with TIME OFF!
The good thing is that many warning signs are telling you that you should rest.
DO NOT OVERLOOK THEM!
– you feel an urge to scratch your head, your neck, or your arms,
– You open your window for fresh air, you are yawning, you drink coffee,
-you try to concentrate to keep your eyes open.
Your eyes may be opened but your eyesight will be foggy or dark without you realizing.
Your passenger notices it and offers to replace you at the wheel…
– “Are you ok? Do you want me to drive?…”
BUT YOUR PRIDE AS A GROWNUP DRIVER WILL REFUSE TO ADMIT IT (especially young males)
(Bad answer!)
IMMINENT PERIL…
YOU STILL DO NOT WANT TO ADMIT IT so you promise yourself to pay attention but your focusing comes from your brain and your brain is losing power and is going to shut off without notice! (exactly like you iPhone)
Exactly like a computer that freezes during an exam on a timer.
It becomes impossible to concentrate and think.
DOES IT SOUNDS FAMILIAR???
You are slowly losing your perception of distances and your feeling of danger.
You saw a coming car’s headlights far away ahead of your car and suddenly it is upon you!
Then… ONE SECOND OF THIS STATE OF MIND MAY BECOME ETERNITY…
That may be the last time you close your eyes.
BELIEVE ME, I know!
This guy could as well be blind: his eyes are opened but the brain does not see any picture. He is in the dark!.
THE ONLY KEY IS TO RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS AND TO STOP DRIVING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
But the trick is to stick to it because everyone thinks they can beat it and stay alert! NOBODY CAN!
Young men especially think they have enough mind-power to overcome fatigue. But think about it: if the mind itself is asleep, it has no more power, so don’t be a macho man
LET ME EXPLAIN:
Your brain is in total command here, and if the supreme commander falls asleep, your body will not respond, it will be in a “zombie” state, It will be like a computer that froze, you may move the mouse, but the screen will stay dark.
RESTING CANNOT BE POSTPONED! read my story (above) If you by-passed it.
Keeping them open does not mean you can see…Using matches won’t do the trick if the brain shuts off, your vision does too.
A little demon in your brain had shut off the main power and you are in the dark, blind, deaf, and mute. Powerless.
End of the show!
But unfortunately, unlike computers, your brain does not have a backup battery. You will have to recharge it all night long.
Look at the bus driver resting on his dashboard.
Assuming this is a long-distance travel company do you think that passengers will complain?
Professional drivers know that resting cannot be postponed.
STOP or ask to be replaced as soon as possible at the first signs of drowsiness.
Your passengers will be understanding and grateful.
( This bus company’s name is fictitious (LOL)-
Don’t be a brainless macho. Be a Responsible Driver.
The advice from this Tibetan (modified) saying is sound and simple to understand, yet difficult to put into practice.
In this day and age, our attention is constantly being pulled a thousand different directions, with our focus going by the wayside.
Not only is it important to be present at the moment when you do something, but it’s also important that you zone in as much as you can.
If it’s time to work, just work.
Empty your mind of the past of present and think about what needs to be done right then and there.
Develop monk-like focus and eliminate distractions that may cause you to wobble.
Give weight to your intentions and do exactly what you need to do.is Tibetan
Most adolescents are chronically sleep-deprived, averaging a scant six to seven hours a night. Part of the blame can be placed on early starting times for school, which, coupled with many teens’ 11 p.m. and midnight bedtimes, result in a considerable sleep deficit.
Teen drivers who sleep less than 9 hours nightly are one-third more likely to crash than those who sleep 9 or more hours nightly.
It is not a question of brainpower but a simple fact: Teenager’s Brain are still developing until the age of 21 and growth hormone acts only during sleeping. You should not use a clock to wake up, if you are still sleepy is because your body needs it..
Nowadays, teenagers on average get about 7-7.5 hours of sleep per night.
That means they are missing 2 hours compared to 9 to 9.5 hours.
Most teenagers are therefore in a state of sleep-deficiency, which can affect studying, concentration, and physical activity.
Newer studies are beginning to focus on the effects that sleep (or lack thereof) may have on performance in sports.
The benefits of increased sleep include:
In adolescence, the brain’s biological clock, or circadian rhythm, shifts forward.
Especially active Melatonin secretions, a growth hormone that triggers sleepiness, starts later at night and turn off later in the morning. This is not supposed to be interrupted.
This natural shift peps up adolescents at the traditional weekday bedtime of 9 or 10 p.m. Melatonin acting like a sleeping pill can explain why it is so hard to rouse them at sunrise. A teen needs to wake up naturally – go to bed earlier!!!!
Further, sleeping for long stretches is naturally anabolic: During deep sleep, our bodies release growth hormone, which stimulates the healing and growth of muscle and bone.
That’s why it is very important for teenagers, still in a growth period,(until 21) to sleep more than adults. Sleep deprivation would lead to irritability and lack of concentration.
Too little sleep can result in uncontrolled napping (either in class or, more dangerously, behind the wheel), irritability, inability to do tasks that are not exciting or of a competitive nature, and dependence on caffeine drinks to stay alert. Sleep deprivation also has a powerful effect on a teen’s ability to learn and retain new material, especially in abstract subject areas such as physics, philosophy, math, and calculus.
Battling biology can be daunting, but adults can help teenagers get enough sleep by keeping TVs and electronic gadgets out of their bedrooms, switching to water or caffeine-free drinks in the evening, and getting them to wind down activity by a reasonable hour. Catch-up sleep on weekends is a second-best option because it can confuse the brain as to when night-time occurs and is not as restorative as regular slumber.
GO TO BED EARLY. LET YOU BODY DECIDE WHEN IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP.
if you wake up early, then do whatever you intended to do before going to bed.
Adequate sleep is central to physical and emotional health.
Scientists don’t fully understand what happens while we sleep, but they know this much:
Some of our genes act as internal clocks and release hormones according to cycles called circadian rhythms, which are triggered by darkness and light and alternate over 24-hour periods.
So while it’s possible to push through a lack of sleep during any one day, proper sleep helps in two ways.
They made a test with trained sharpshooters.
Results show that when they had a 7-hour sleep they were 98/100 accurate at shooting.
If they only slept 4 hours they were down to 15/100 accuracy.
They were “awake” but their brain wasn’t. They were unable to concentrate, as their brain was still finishing the night .
To minimize challenges of driving at night:
Driving at night means encountering nocturnal animals of varying sizes, like raccoons and opossums. However, there are larger, more deadly, and dangerous animals, like deer, elk, and moose, that can cause serious damage. As noted in point number one, even high beams fail to illuminate much beyond your stopping distance, so avoiding a deer or other animals takes a particular skill—catching your headlights reflected in the eyes of an animal. These tiny bright spots often appear far down the road, giving you more time to slow down or come to a stop.
When encountering a large animal, the best strategy is to slow down as quickly as you can without exiting your lane or driving off the road. Deer will often follow your headlights and move in front of you, so swerving can increase the likelihood of an accident.
It can also lead to eyestrain and drowsiness. Wear good sunglasses on bright days and take them off as soon as the sun goes down. After steady daytime driving, rest awhile before you begin driving at night. At night, look to the center of your pathway and use the painted edge lines to guide your vehicle.
Long digestion or bad eating habits can cause fatigue and doziness, as well as slowing reflexes, and make you more prone to clumsiness. They can affect your ability to focus and increase the risk of accidents. It is wise to eat lightly before driving especially for a long trip. Avoid greasy foods.
THE REMEDIES:
There is ONLY ONE: (same as for Alcohol consumption) TIME OUT!
Get your ZZZZs before betting behind-the-wheel:
Adults over 21 should have had 7 hours of sleep minimum before driving, especially before a long trip,
Teens under 21 years of age: 9 to 10 hours of sleep.
Like alcohol, fatigue is ONLY corrected with time out! The only effective and safe remedy is REST, not in five-miles or so. NOW! As soon as it is safely possible.
Not counting that drinking hot coffee while driving may spell disaster, ( see next topic: Distractions)
Coffee is often served at temperatures near scalding and can cause serious burns that also divert a driver’s focus.
Uncovered drinks generally are the greatest offenders for unexpected splashes and spills. Nobody wants to look soiled or messy, especially on the way to work, and coffee spills are the worst because drivers invariably try to make instant clean-ups while still driving.
The danger of drinking caffeinated drinks:
Motorists who drive long distances have been warned that drinking caffeinated drinks can similarly affect their driving as alcohol.
Would you believe it?
The research has shown that just an hour after drinking a highly caffeinated and sugared drink, tired drivers can experience serious lapses in concentration and slower reaction times as the drink wears off. The American Food and Drink Administration has attributed symptoms such as irritability, nervousness, irregular or rapid heartbeat, muscle twitching, and rambling speech to what it terms ‘caffeine intoxication’.
Energy drinks are good as a quick fix but they’re no substitute for regular breaks. Having a high-caffeine drink is a one-off hit.
You can’t repeat it, as this type of drink does not produce the same effect in a couple of hours.
WE HOPE THAT YOU COULD READ ALL THIS WITHOUT FALLING ASLEEP!!!
VIDEO: THIS SMART GUY THOUGH HE COULD BEAT FATIQUE AND WANTED TO PROVE IT!
IF YOU DID NOT FALL ASLEEP READING THIS TOPIC
CONGRATULATION !!!
You had enough zzz’s last night and your brain is wide awake.
Sorry we had to insist on this subject but it is a VERY sneaky one.
You must recognize the symptoms way in advance
because if sleeps strikes, your brain cannot function.
End of Topic 4 d- BEHINd-THE-WHEEL TIREDNESS
Next Step: TOPIC 4 e: ” CELL PHONES AND OTHER DISTRACTIONS”
