United States Coast Guard Emergency Underwater Escape Rebreather Evaluation

摘要

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Emergency Underwater Escape Rebreather (UER) was evaluated at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit. Physiologic testing in the dry laboratory, monitoring breath-to-breath O2 and CO2 levels, delineated the factors used in selection of 40% O2 as an appropriate and safe breathing mixture. Tests during exercise provided the maximum usable duration in cold water to be 2 minutes. Pool studies evaluated the suitability for in-water use of the UER to a maximum working depth of 6 FSW. The results demonstrated the UER to be an acceptable shallow depth emergency escape device. The use of a nose clip or face mask is recommended to minimize gas loss and possible aspiration of water through the nose. Minor shortcomings in the breathing characteristics of the device may be improved by changes in the breathing bag configuration. (Author)