The Snow Snorkel: a proof of concept study

Area of Science:

• Emergency medicine
• Environmental physiology
• Survival equipment

Background:

• Snow burial is a significant risk during winter activities.
• Effective breathing apparatus is crucial for survival in snow burial incidents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and efficacy of the Snow Snorkel for healthy volunteers during simulated snow burial.
• To evaluate physiological responses to snow burial using the Snow Snorkel.

Main Methods:

• Nine healthy male volunteers were buried in snow (30-40 cm depth) for up to 60 minutes with the Snow Snorkel.
• Physiological parameters including arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), body temperature (T), and electrocardiography (ECG) were monitored.

Main Results:

• Seven out of nine volunteers completed the 60-minute snow burial with the Snow Snorkel.
• No significant changes were observed in respiratory rate, arterial oxygen saturation, body temperature, or ECG.
• A statistically significant decrease in mean heart rate was noted (P = .002).

Conclusions:

• The Snow Snorkel is a safe and effective device for maintaining respiration during snow burial.
• Simple breathing systems like the Snow Snorkel warrant further investigation for potential use in avalanche rescue and survival.