“And today… we all ask why this man had to go so soon…” Why? He fell asleep behind the wheel!
After their annual family vacation, the Wilsons were heading down the highway on the home stretch to reality. The kids were all fast asleep in the back seat, exhausted from their adventures. Trevor and Kate were recapping the week’s events when suddenly, a Jeep, heading down the opposite side of the highway careened into the ditch and proceeded to flip and roll a dozen times before coming to a complete stop.
Shocked by what they had witnessed, they scanned the papers the following morning to determine the fate of the vehicle’s occupants. The lone inhabitant of the vehicle was pronounced dead on the scene. The paper reported the cause of the crash: “the driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel”.
If you have been feeling fatigued, or noticed a change in your reaction time and attentiveness and feel like this could be due to a sleep problem, fill out our online questionnaire, and we will get back to you with recommendations for your specific situation.
Impaired sleep is a major cause of accidents. Plain and simple.
Fatigue and carelessness resulting from sleep loss, contributes to more disasters than we’re aware of. More than one-third of people polled, who said they had driven while drowsy, indicated they have fallen asleep at the wheel!
While it shocks no one to learn lack of sleep can alter emotions and can trigger a bad mood, it may be astounding to realize that sleep deprived individuals have the same reaction time as someone under the influence of alcohol. A recent study indicates sleep deprived folks account for well over half of all accidents on the road.
Inadequate amounts of sleep affect your reaction time and attentiveness. Workplace related accidents result in financial burdens affecting society, the health care system and obviously the individual. Almost 20 percent of all workplace related injuries occur because of a person’s tiredness.
Driving while drowsy sounds harmless enough. Going about your daily routine when you are sleep deprived doesn’t appear to be hurting anyone. The truth is – it’s dangerous. Sleepiness is a non-discriminating liability and can impair your reaction time, your physical and mental capabilities and your ability to process information and make judgments.
Let us know about your sleep problems and we will work together to find a sleep solution, such as an orthotic or snoring device, that will work for you. Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Westman.