1 Answers
The history of aviation medicine began largely after World War I, when aircraft needed to fly to higher altitudes. In the Jet Age, aircraft became pressurised so rapid decompression became a hazard leading to passing out, high g-forces which led to G-LOC and ejection seats caused spinal compression and other injuries. Much of the adverse health effects in aviation are caused by rapid changes in atmospheric pressure, such as decompression sickness.
Aviation medicine is not purposed for people with diseases, but contingencies have been developed to allow people to go into low pressure environments, which in itself is a large medical challenge.
Paul Bert of France is known as the Father of Aviation Medicine, the first to research effects of air-pressure on health and oxygen toxicity; he worked with the French meteorologist Gaston Tissandier. The first fatalities from aviation hypoxia occurred on 15 April 1875 in France, when the balloon Zenith reached 28,200 ft.