Altitude Disease

An American mountaineer, chemical engineer Igor Gamow, has invented a sleeping bag that can save mountaineers from altitude sickness. It has been tested for the first time in an expedition to Everest. (see in this issue the article entitled Osasuna goi menetan).

David Padwa, head of the expedition to Everest, says: He has saved the lives of two friends who have suffered serious problems with pulmonary edema.

The bag weighs 5 kilos and is made of polyurethane coated nylon. The mountaineer who begins to suffer an altitude illness has no more than to get into the sac. Another mountaineer fills the air bag with a pump and increases the internal pressure. Although the sack is about 4,000 m away, increasing the pressure can be achieved a situation of 2,000 m.

The bag provides comfort and safety to the patient until it drops. In the current model it is necessary to continuously pump air inside the bag to maintain the level of carbon oxide (IV) without lifting to dangerous measure. Ten strokes per minute are sufficient.

However, studies are being carried out to prepare chemical absorbers and the oxygen generating pathways, which will eliminate the excess carbon dioxide from the sack. The bag is intended to be useful without pumping air.

Babesleak
Eusko Jaurlaritzako Industria, Merkataritza eta Turismo Saila