The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

The Snow Snorkel: a proof of concept study

The Snow Snorkel: a proof of concept study
The Snow Snorkel: a proof of concept study
Objective: to demonstrate that the Snow Snorkel can be used safely by healthy volunteers buried in snow for up to 1hour.

Methods: nine healthy male volunteers were placed in a shoulder-width trench and buried with snow to a depth of 30 to 40cm. The study was divided into 2 stages. The first stage (Stage 1) was performed with the Snow Snorkel in operation (60-minute duration) and was then followed by a second stage (Stage 2) (15-minute duration) when the device was removed. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), axillary temperature (T), and 3-lead electrocardiography (ECG) were monitored throughout the study.

Results: of the 9vol.nteers who were enrolled, 7 were able to complete Stage 1, while only 3 were able to complete Stage 2. In those who completed Stage 1, the mean HR fell by 14.1 beats/min (P=.002), while RR (P=.5) and SaO2 (P=.7) remained unchanged compared to baseline measurements. There were no changes in T or ECG.

Conclusions: simple systems such as the Snow Snorkel are effective during snow burial and warrant further investigation
1080-6032
61-65
Windsor, Jeremy S.
4656fa52-6c4e-4681-aad3-76ced2ce7152
Hamilton, Edwin
018783dd-1dd2-4cef-8931-75aa22c312e1
Grocott, Michael P..
1e87b741-513e-4a22-be13-0f7bb344e8c2
O'Dwyer, Michael J.
bdbeb7a4-b20e-442d-9241-e625e1d578e5
Milledge, James S.
b186574f-0849-47b4-8fed-b06dd94cefac
Windsor, Jeremy S.
4656fa52-6c4e-4681-aad3-76ced2ce7152
Hamilton, Edwin
018783dd-1dd2-4cef-8931-75aa22c312e1
Grocott, Michael P..
1e87b741-513e-4a22-be13-0f7bb344e8c2
O'Dwyer, Michael J.
bdbeb7a4-b20e-442d-9241-e625e1d578e5
Milledge, James S.
b186574f-0849-47b4-8fed-b06dd94cefac

Windsor, Jeremy S., Hamilton, Edwin, Grocott, Michael P.., O'Dwyer, Michael J. and Milledge, James S. (2009) The Snow Snorkel: a proof of concept study. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 20 (1), 61-65. (doi:10.1580/08-WEME-BR-183.1). (PMID:19364164)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective: to demonstrate that the Snow Snorkel can be used safely by healthy volunteers buried in snow for up to 1hour.

Methods: nine healthy male volunteers were placed in a shoulder-width trench and buried with snow to a depth of 30 to 40cm. The study was divided into 2 stages. The first stage (Stage 1) was performed with the Snow Snorkel in operation (60-minute duration) and was then followed by a second stage (Stage 2) (15-minute duration) when the device was removed. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), axillary temperature (T), and 3-lead electrocardiography (ECG) were monitored throughout the study.

Results: of the 9vol.nteers who were enrolled, 7 were able to complete Stage 1, while only 3 were able to complete Stage 2. In those who completed Stage 1, the mean HR fell by 14.1 beats/min (P=.002), while RR (P=.5) and SaO2 (P=.7) remained unchanged compared to baseline measurements. There were no changes in T or ECG.

Conclusions: simple systems such as the Snow Snorkel are effective during snow burial and warrant further investigation

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 2009
Organisations: Human Development & Health

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 348929
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/348929
ISSN: 1080-6032
PURE UUID: 58674e16-480d-492a-a1b4-756ef080efc6
ORCID for Michael P.. Grocott: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9484-7581

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 22 Feb 2013 11:32
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:33

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Jeremy S. Windsor
Author: Edwin Hamilton
Author: Michael J. O'Dwyer
Author: James S. Milledge

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×