Bladder Busting

[aeroscout]

HEMS pilots, do you wait until a callout to run to the bathroom ?

Or do you try to limit your output by hydrating less on shift ?

What technique do you use to manage the call of nature, and the callout ?

[Azhigher]

Use the facilities when you feel the need at base. If it comes up in the air it's usually a few minutes before I'm at a hospital.

 

I'm fairly young though, so maybe it becomes a bit more of a problem as age takes its toll. (No disrespect intended)

[pilot#476398]

 

...Or do you try to limit your output by hydrating less on shift ?

 

As someone who has suffered the effects of dehydration while flying, I wouldn't recomend this!

[Wally]

Generally only a consideration first half of day shifts, I like my coffee... After that, I know I'm going to shutdown at the receiving or at the fuel stop while the patient is in-processed.

[Velocity173]

Even if I forget to go before flight, all I have to do is wait an hour or two and I'll be at the hospital or back at base. I'm usually good for 4-5 hours without having to go. Done it many times in the military.

[JDHelicopterPilot]

Never an issue. If you must go it is not a problem to do so before you take off. But again, most legs are less than an hour. At which point I can head into the hospital if needed.

[JDHelicopterPilot]

Oh, don't dehydrate yourself....

[heligirl03]

The worst possible scenario I can imagine might be shut down with delayed packaging at some scene call with absolutely zero options (ideas anyone?). Otherwise, even the aircraft can only go so long without a pit stop and there are generally facilities anywhere you're headed.

 

Honestly, I had this issue more often while flying canyon tours. The schedule is back to back and dawn to dusk, turnaround time is nearly nil, and you're drinking gallons of water a day to survive the heat. There are no facilities at the bottom of the canyon and the Hualapai people consider the land sacred.

 

e.

[ospreydriver]

Does anyone ever use a piddle-pack or the poor man's version (the Gatorade bottle), or is that verboten in the civilian world?

 

I've only had to resort to that a couple times in many years of military flying, but when I've needed to, I've really needed to. I imagine in the single-pilot world, it might come up more often, since one can't just excuse oneself for a break while turning.

[Flying Pig]

Perhaps this issue should be an item in the PTS for commercial female students.

Edited December 22, 2013 by Flying Pig

[Flying Pig]

Does anyone ever use a piddle-pack or the poor man's version (the Gatorade bottle), or is that verboten in the civilian world?

 

I've only had to resort to that a couple times in many years of military flying, but when I've needed to, I've really needed to. I imagine in the single-pilot world, it might come up more often, since one can't just excuse oneself for a break while turning.

When I flew surveillance I used a Tide detergent bottle. But I didn't have paying passengers Once I had a female camera operator and had to do an emergency decent from 11K with her begging me not to bounce it on the landing.(airplane)

[rotormandan]

Drink more beer when you're off (and not flying next morning). It's a good bladder workout.

[aeroscout]

Drink more beer when you're off (and not flying next morning). It's a good bladder workout.

Are you saying your bladder can beat up my bladder ?

[rotormandan]

Ya, my bladder is one bad azz macho bladder.

[aeroscout]

Ya, my bladder is one bad azz macho bladder.

If my bladder was a sandwich,

It would be a peanut bladder and jelly.

[Flying Pig]

I'd say this thread has just about reached its useful life.

[aeroscout]

I'd say this thread has just about reached its useful life.

We may be able to shake a few more drip posts out of it.

Oh ye of little faith in threads like "fudging the logbook" !

By the way, your reply officially made this thread...HOT !

[pilot#476398]

Any of you just wear a diaper?

[aeroscout]

Any of you just wear a diaper?

Only during important lengthy sporting events when drinking enhances the experience, and you don't want to miss even a minute of it ! The sports diaper !

[Flying Pig]

It didn't work well for that female astronaut entoute to kill her boyfriends girlfriend

[Gomer Pylot]

In an emergency, the "rubber" gloves the med crew use will work. Not sure how well for a female, but one or two can hold enough to get you to a better location. They take up almost no space, and are actually pretty strong. Never considered a diaper, and I hope I don't need to start using them before retirement. That's desperation, IMO.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Gomer Pylot

[ospreydriver]

That glove thing sounds like a urine bomb waiting to happen. I could definitely see someone dropping it on the cockpit floor, especially when tying it off, unless there's a pilot technique I'm not seeing here.

 

The piddle packs we get in the military are basically a dried (shrunken) sponge in a ziplock bag. The sponge takes away most of the spash/spill hazard. Still, emergency use only, IMHO.

[Hotdogs]

Cobra = Piss tube. Just don't do and let it spray out the bottom and all over the ordnance Marines during arm/dearm. Big no-no.

[superstallion6113]

Cobra = Piss tube. Just don't do and let it spray out the bottom and all over the ordnance Marines during arm/dearm. Big no-no.

 

Oh you mean the back-up ICS mic?

[aeroscout]

 

Oh you mean the back-up ICS mic?

Megaphone PA system. You have to talk real loud into it.