"a gradual decompression or inability to maintain cabin pressure to below 10000' would definately bring warnings on in the cockpit, and given any airline's SOP,"
Of course, airplane warning/indication systems never break down
"if anything, cabin staff should be a little more immune to the effects of altitude, being subjected to climbs to cabin alt of 6-10000' regularly. certainly i would expect during their training to have undergone training to recognise the onset of a rising cabin altitude."
I think it's time we transferred this message thread to the medical forum... There seems to be a lot of speculation here. From the numerous reports I've read on hypoxia, I get the impression that it is something which creeps up on you.. .and by the time you should respond to it, your brain isn't functioning the way it should. There have been numerous threads on pilots not recognising the various warnings generated by their aircraft (including decompression). Re training on the effects of hypoxia..... I've come across cabin crew who don't even know how to close their own airplane doors
Crews subjected to cabin altitudes up to 10,000'??? What sort of aircraft are we talking about here?... On the 747-400, your first indication that something is amiss is at 8,500' (the cabin altitude indications turn to amber). At 10,000', you get aural warnings and red indications).
As I said before.. I'm no expert on hypoxia... I'm only relating what I've read in reports/safety journals.
Rgds.
NSEU