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Experiment shows shocking stress levels at Heathrow
The stress of passengers passing through Heathrow airport reached higher levels than some victims of knifepoint muggings, according to an experiment conducted by a leading neuropsychologist.
As part of the experiment, carried out last weekend on behalf of Silverjet, four passengers had chest monitors fitted to record increases in their heart rate, pressure pads attached to their arms to monitor changes in blood pressure and sensors attached to their finger-tips to measure changes in physiological stress.
According to Dr David Lewis, who oversaw the experiment, passenger heart rates peaked at four times their resting levels and physiological stress levels exceeded those recorded amongst Formula 1 racing drivers or free-fall parachutists.
Some parts of the experience even proved to be more stressful than being mugged at knife point.
“We have measured people in all kinds of situations from riot policemen confronting a stone throwing mob to racing drivers and sky-divers and these are among the highest peaks in heart rate and blood pressure that we have ever seen,” said Dr Lewis.
“ The conditions at Heathrow Airport and the stress levels that passengers are routinely subject to poses a very grave danger to the health of travellers at the airport.”
Lawrence Hunt, CEO, Silverjet, comments: “These findings help us to understand the stress points in the customer journey and enable us to completely remove them from the Silverjet service.”
The experiment was carried out between July 21 and 22 2007 on a return journey from London Heathrow to Amsterdam.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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