The trapped coal miners

[911paramedic]

I have a very bad feeling that nobody is getting out of that situation. They say that millions of gallons of water rushed in, so they are pumping it out and pumping in compressed air. The temp down there is in the 50's (water temp) so they will die from hypothermia if they have not already drowned.

The other thing is that if they do get them out alive, they will get decompression sickness very badly. If they are pumping air to hold the water out of where they are, it's compressed to the head pressure of the water, or ~200 ft. If you are a scuba diver, you know you can only stay at 100 feet for about 20 min tops without having to decompress. They have now been at ~200ft for over 24 hours, not good.

CNN Story

 

[Rallispec]

they said on the news they're trapped in a 3x3 little hole.. you realize how small that is??



i sure hope that its not just bad news when they find them.

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: Rallispec
they said on the news they're trapped in a 3x3 little hole.. you realize how small that is??



i sure hope that its not just bad news when they find them.

I heard it was 3' by 12' this morning. You cannot get 9 people into a 3'x3' space without a blender.

 

[Booster]

This sucks . I hate it when I hear about trapped coal miners. I've heard several such shocking news this year only. They should do something to make coal mining less dangerous that it is now.

 

[StageLeft]

People just don't get out of situations like that. Was watching last night on what's going on and what they have to do...goodluck to them and it would be awesome if they got anybody out but these things just are too damn hard to pull off.

 

[Rallispec]

they're hoping to reach them this morning.. according the the radio.. and when they do, they said it will still be another 18 housr getting them out.


oh, and yeah, 3x12, not 3x3.

 

[FettsBabe]

I thought I heard that they are not actually in the water. They are above it, but they are pumping the water to keep it from reaching them. Thoughts?

 

[LordJezo]

Well, at least one person got out when it all happened.

Better then none I suppose.

 

[Stark]

I was wondering about this on the drive in. Why don't they send divers in to get the miners?

It seems like they've made little progress for two days and the miners are virtually doomed.

 

[FettsBabe]

They haven't received any communication since midday Thursday. Thats not a pleasant sign

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: FettsBabe
They haven't received any communication since midday Thursday. Thats not a pleasant sign

they also said that the sound of the drilling and digging to rescue them is probably so loud that they wouldnt be able to hear them trapped down there over it.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

it seems everything that could go wrong in the rescue attempt has...

anyone know exactly what "hyperbaric stretchers" that the navy is sending in do?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: MrDingleDangle
it seems everything that could go wrong in the rescue attempt has...

anyone know exactly what "hyperbaric stretchers" that the navy is sending in do?

Just playing SAT verbal, I'd guess they are some sort of stretcher that allows them to keep their bodies pressurized so they don't get the bends as they hoist them out?

That's just a guess.

 

[MichaelD]

They are essentially small(relatively) portable hyperbaric chambers. They will transport the stretchers down there, load the victims into them and bring them up to the surface. Their bodies will be under pressure, so no decompression baddies occur. Unfortunately, the stretchers will prolly not be necessary.

 

[narzy]

Pic.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

thats what i kinda figured...now how would they fit those down a 30 inch wide hole they are digging?

 

[thebestMAX]

Everybody says Coal mine Disaster in Pa but my question is WHERE in Pa? None of the news broadcasts Ive seen mentions where!

I grew up in the Wilkes-Barre, Scranton area and I remember when the Susquehanna river broke through the roof of the mines there and flooded them. Lots of mine disasters in the 50s and there about also.

Used to see those poor guys riding home on the buses black with coal dust from head to foot and swore Id never do that!!

Best wishes for those guys.

 

[cavingjan]

Somerset county (AKA Southwestern PA)

If this were a cave rescue, this would be very serious and mine rescues are usually worse. I do not envy any of those involved and wish the miners and their families the best.

 

[etech]

GREAT NEWS

The miners have been reached by telephone and all nine are alive!

Worker: All Nine Miners Alive

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: etech
GREAT NEWS

The miners have been reached by telephone and all nine are alive!

Worker: All Nine Miners Alive

Beyond great. These things too often don't have a good ending.

 

[Yossarian451]

They can feed them a gas mixture to try to revese the immediate decompression sickness problems then stick them in a similar situation. aka decompression chamber. Though if I were them it would take an army to put me in another cold dark place.

 

[Tripleshot]

The drill operator just said it. This is a miracle. I am sure God had a hand in this. And now is a good time to thank him. And ask for a special blessing on all those who He touched to make this a happy and most profound outcome.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: etech
GREAT NEWS The miners have been reached by telephone and all nine are alive! Worker: All Nine Miners Alive

AWESOME!!!

Whew...

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: etech
GREAT NEWS The miners have been reached by telephone and all nine are alive! Worker: All Nine Miners Alive

AWESOME!!!

Whew...

Grreat News thanks God!

 

[Luden]

Glad to hear it , lets hope they can get them all out of there soon.