Hearing: How Loud Life Should Be

How LOUD Life Should Be levery 3 Soldiers is affected by hearing loss Know the safe volume limit for each of these activities and learn how to protect yourself from future hearing damage, whether at home, drill, or in combat. LOUDNESS SCALE Measured in Decibels (dB) OdB 80dB 140dB 2000B ... . ... ... SAFE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DANGEROUS AT A CONCERT A concert can get as loud as 120 dB ) That's as loud as a live chainsaw next to your ear! ... Wear foam or silicone earplugs to concerts, found at your local drug store. USING HEADPHONES Listening to music with headphones at max volume It's the same as 105 dB ) standing next to a helicopter taking off. Exposure to sounds this loud for even 15 minutes a day can cause long-term hearing damage. ... ... Listen to music at a safe level by turning down your V headphones so you can hear people talking next to you. OPERATING A VEHICLE Exposure to engine noise in a 4-hour convoy Does as much 95 dB ) damage to hearing as an IED explosion. .... Protect your ears with military grade earplugs that provide protection for constant noise environments. FLYING A HELICOPTER Tactical vehicles and rotary wing aircraft, like helicopters, produce steady noise higher than 85 dB ) Steady noise at this level causes gradual, but permanent, hearing loss. Put on noise-cancelling headphones before turning on the aircraft to protect against hearing damage. ON THE FIRING RANGE M60s put off 150 dB ) Loud enough to rupture your eardrums instantly. Single impulse sounds, like gunfire, can cause sudden hearing loss. ... . .. . Protect your ears with noise-activated earplugs to block sudden noises. BLAST NOISE Stun grenade explosions are up to 180 dB ) That's like standing next to a space shuttle launch. 50% of Soldiers injured in blasts experience hearing loss. Protect your eardrums with electronic earplugs that allow natural hearing while protecțing against harmful blast noises. Ask your Medical Readiness NCO where you can get hearing protection devices. HOW TO WEAR HEARING PROTECTION PROPERLY To straighten your ear for earplugs, grip the cartilage of your ear and stretch it away from your body. Insert the earplug, then release your ear. Do a few jumping jacks to test the security of the earplugs: if they fall out, try again, or get a smaller size. FOAM EARPLUGS Pinch the foam, insert the earplug, and allow the foam to expand in your ear until a tight, non-painful seal is obtained. SILICONE EARPLUGS Slide silicone earplugs carefully into your ear until you feel slight resistance. Never jam anything into your inner ear. EARMUFFS Secure any long hair. Adjust the headband until the muffs completely cover your ears, creating a tight seal on the skin of your face. The bottom of the muff should sit about two fingers up from your jawbone. www.GuardYourHealth.com GUARD YOUR HEALTH f www.facebook.com/ARNGHealth My Mission. My Health. www.twitter.com/arnghealth