Eurac Research and Mountain Rescue South Tyrol tested the use of drones to locate and rescue accident victims in Bletterbach Gorge. The results are in, drones save valuable time and increase safety for rescue services in inaccessible areas.

First aid: drones make a difference

È stata una “prima” per il mondo della ricerca in medicina di montagna. Una trentina di persone appassionate di montagna ha partecipato a un test mai svolto prima con questa modalità: farsi seppellire completamente dalla neve – monitorati da un team di ricerca – per testare in condizioni realistiche l’efficacia di un nuovo dispositivo per gli incidenti in valanga. Il dispositivo è stato progettato per allungare il tempo in cui si riesce a sopravvivere sotto la neve: pompa aria in modo continuo vicino a naso e bocca per oltre un'ora per evitare di soffocare rapidamente.

Uno studio unico per contribuire alla ricerca sugli incidenti in valanga

Prove di sopravvivenza sotto la neve 

A physicist with expertise in remote sensing and Earth observation and an emergency physician active in mountain rescue. Claudia Notarnicola and Giacomo Strapazzon could not have more different profiles, yet their research is united by at least two things: the use of increasingly bigger data and ... snow.

Conversations between disciplines: interview with physicist Claudia Notarnicola and emergency physician Giacomo Strapazzon.

“Data sustainability is the new frontier of research”

I tempi di reazione durante i soccorsi in elicottero ad altissima quota sono più lenti (anche se i partecipanti non se ne sono resi conto), mentre le altre funzioni cognitive indagate sono nella norma, anche a 5.000 metri. Lo dimostra una ricerca svolta all’interno del simulatore di ambienti estremi terraXcube.

Uno studio nel terraXcube ha verificato le performance delle squadre di elisoccorso

Cervelli lucidi anche a 5.000 metri?

It looks like a headset for listening to music, uses sensors placed in the external ear canal and has been tested in the terraXcube, in temperatures between -10 and 20 °C. The space-saving, noninvasive and easy-to-use instrument not only measures core temperature, but also oxygen saturation and heart rate. Eurac Research patented it in collaboration with companies Minnova Med and Kerr Srl, the innovative device performs best in emergency medical interventions, but could also be used in other hospital settings. 

Medical device to measure temperature and other vital parameters from the ear recently patented 

An emergency headset 

Eurac Research physicians tested the LUCAS automatic heart massager aboard an airbus that simulated altered gravity by means of a parabolic flight. The goal of the study was to ascertain whether the device could be used for cardiac emergencies in space.

Our researchers tested an automated heart massager to measure its efficacy on space missions

Houston, we have a (heart) problem

Research Award Alto Adige 2021 al medico ricercatore Simon Rauch

An experiment carried out by our mountain emergency team in the terraXcube in collaboration with the International Commission for Mountain Rescue (ICAR) and with the support of the White Cross evaluated the quality of cardiac massage at 3000 and 5000 meters altitude. 

Ecco i risultati di un esperimento condotto nel terraXcube 

Helicopter rescue: shorter resuscitation shifts needed at high altitudes

In recent months, research teams from emergency medicine, mountain rescue, drone and electrical engineering have been drawn to the Bletterbach Gorge (South Tyrol) time and again to simulate rescue missions. The interregional research project START, has seen a steady flow of these teams to the gorge, to investigate whether drones can help in the localisation and initial treatment of persons injured in difficult to access terrain.

Eurac Research and Mountain Rescue South Tyrol test the use of drones for emergency operations in the Bletterbach Gorge

First aid from above

In a pioneering volunteer trial, Eurac Research scientists were able to measure the level of cerebral oxygenation in a simulated avalanche burial situation using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
Their aim was to determine parameters for the possible prolongation of victim survival without incurring the effects of neurological damage due to three H syndrome (from hypoxia, hypercapnia and hypothermia). The results were recently published in the prestigious journal Resuscitation.


Simulated avalanches enable observation of brain oxygenation under snow 

Getting inside the heads of avalanche victims 

L’ecografia come tecnica per diagnosticare patologie polmonari nei pronto soccorso ha trovato nell’emergenza Covid-19 il suo banco di prova. Sempre più studi, tra cui uno che abbiamo svolto in collaborazione con l’Ospedale di Bolzano, ne dimostrano l’utilità nel riconoscere le polmoniti. 

Covid-19: ecografie alla riscossa

The hypothesis was put forward by US doctors when the Corona pandemic hit the States. The theory suggested Covid-19 patients strongly resembled cases of altitude sickness induced pulmonary oedema and could therefore, be treated in the same way. Together with colleagues a research team around Hermann Brugger and his institute co-director Giacomo Strapazzon has published an official statement on the differences between the two diseases and why they should not be treated equally. 

Research team publishes official statement

There is no link between Covid-19 and high-altitude pulmonary oedema

Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem

Can wearing face masks at rest and during exercise at sea-level and altitude lead to health problems? Development of face masks with increased breathability and retained microbial filter properties.

Giacomo Strapazzon

Projects

Project

iNEST

Project

hypO2-MASK

Project

Hypoxia-PRE-Sport

Project

ALPISIM

Project

MedSENS

Project

IMER

MAGAZINE Science Stories that Inspire

First aid: drones make a difference

“Data sustainability is the new frontier of research”

An emergency headset

Prove di sopravvivenza sotto la neve

Cervelli lucidi anche a 5.000 metri?

Houston, we have a (heart) problem

Giacomo Strapazzon

Projects

Project

iNEST

Project

hypO2-MASK

Project

Hypoxia-PRE-Sport

Project

ALPISIM

Project

MedSENS

Project

IMER

MAGAZINE Science Stories that Inspire

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“Data sustainability is the new frontier of research”self.__wrap_b(":R17ladabjlm:",1)

An emergency headsetself.__wrap_b(":R17lbdabjlm:",1)

Prove di sopravvivenza sotto la neveself.__wrap_b(":R17l9labjlm:",1)

Cervelli lucidi anche a 5.000 metri?self.__wrap_b(":R17lalabjlm:",1)

Houston, we have a (heart) problemself.__wrap_b(":R17lblabjlm:",1)

First aid: drones make a difference

“Data sustainability is the new frontier of research”

An emergency headset

Prove di sopravvivenza sotto la neve

Cervelli lucidi anche a 5.000 metri?

Houston, we have a (heart) problem