36 people were ‘buried alive’ for a test to find…

A team of 36 volunteers took part in a scientific study to test a new device designed to help people survive being trapped in snow after an avalanche. The experiment examined whether the user-worn device could delay oxygen loss and prevent the buildup of carbon dioxide under snow. The study was carefully supervised, and each participant was removed as soon as their vital signs showed any health risk.

The research took place at a field site in Italy between January and March 2023. The device, called the Safeback SBX, was created to draw air from the surrounding snow and direct it to a person’s airways. It functions without the need for external oxygen or a mouthpiece, which sets it apart from traditional systems.

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The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (via Eurac Research), found a clear difference between the two groups. Participants using the Safeback SBX stayed buried for a median duration of 35 minutes without their oxygen levels falling below 80 percent. In contrast, the control group showed a median survival time of just over six minutes, with several cases of oxygen saturation dropping below safe limits.

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Such technology could prove useful in regions prone to heavy snowfall and avalanches, including parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. The Safeback SBX may offer trapped individuals valuable extra time until rescuers arrive, which could improve the chances of survival during emergencies in snow-covered areas.