Tourists at Mount Qomolangma Base Camp can now breathe a sigh of relief—literally! 🚀 A cutting-edge hyperbaric oxygen chamber is making altitude sickness a thing of the past.
During the National Day holiday, a tourist struck by severe altitude sickness was swiftly rescued by this high-tech chamber on October 3. In just 30 minutes, his blood oxygen levels rocketed from a perilous 44% to a healthy 97%, and his heartbeat calmed to 107 beats per minute. Talk about a lifesaver!
According to the chamber's operator, the facility has been buzzing with activity since its launch in July. \"We've been seeing 20 to 30 tourists daily during the holiday—it’s almost at full capacity,\" they told Shangyou News.
Developed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), this state-of-the-art chamber was showcased at the 2023 Western China International Fair. It's packed with integrated systems for air compression, drying, filtering, and pressure stabilization. Plus, it has an automatic control system to regulate atmospheric pressure, oxygen levels, temperature, and humidity. Basically, it simulates lowland conditions, giving your body a much-needed break from the thin mountain air.
\"Blood oxygen saturation typically jumps from around 50% to 80-90% within 15 to 30 minutes in the chamber,\" a representative shared. \"Tourists can significantly alleviate altitude sickness symptoms within half an hour.\"
Travelers are raving about it! On October 5, one visitor posted on social media, \"No more worries about altitude sickness at Qomolangma Base Camp, thanks to the new pressurized oxygen chamber. The mountaineering environment is truly improving.\" The post, along with a snap of the chamber and its catchy slogan \"Two minutes from plateau to plain,\" has everyone curious.
Located 19 kilometers from Mount Qomolangma in Tingri County of Xigaze City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, the base camp sits at an altitude where the air contains only about 48% of the oxygen found at sea level. It's the highest point accessible to ordinary tourists and serves as a starting point for climbers and researchers alike.
With this new hyperbaric oxygen chamber, exploring the heights of Qomolangma just got a whole lot easier—and safer. So next time you're planning an epic adventure, remember: altitude sickness doesn't stand a chance! 🌄💨
Reference(s):
Qomolangma's new hyperbaric oxygen chamber a lifesaver for tourists
cgtn.com
