A fever of 102 F persisting for 48 hours should prompt which action?

• A. Schedule routine check-up
• B. Observe and rest
• C. Start antibiotics
• D. Contact flight surgeon

Answer: (D)

A fever lasting 48 hours is a signal that medical evaluation is needed, especially for someone in a role where flight readiness matters. In Coast Guard aviation, any fever raises concern for an infectious or other medical condition that could impair safety or performance. A flight surgeon is trained to assess fitness to fly, order appropriate tests, and decide on treatment or grounding if necessary. Simply watching and resting risks missing a treatable or evolving condition, and starting antibiotics without a clinician’s evaluation isn’t appropriate because many fevers are viral or self-limiting and require diagnosis before antibiotic use. Delaying a formal assessment until a routine check-up can also miss important precautions or clearance decisions. So the best course is to contact the flight surgeon for a prompt evaluation, to determine if further testing, treatment, or grounding from flight duties is warranted.