Miners argue over who's out last

[Liberal_in_LA]

Miners argue over who's out last

Frank Bajak And Michael Warren, Associated Press

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile — After more than two months trapped deep in a Chilean mine, 33 miners were tantalizingly close to rescue on Sunday and officials said they were so giddy with confidence of success they were arguing over who would be the last one out.
The first tests of the three rescue capsules built by Chilean naval engineers will likely begin early Wednesday, with the rescue to begin later that day and last about 48 hours, said Mining Minister Laurence Golborne.

A day after drillers broke through to where the miners have been abiding, officials began detailed monitoring of their health and sweating every detail of the half-mile ascent that is expected to last about 20 minutes for each man.

"Today we sent down special equipment to measure their heart rate, their respiration rate and skin temperature," said Jaime Manalich, Chile's health minister.

He said officials were concerned about hypertension because the speed with which the miners will ascend the nearly half mile to the surface.

Another concern is blood clotting.

To counteract it, the miners began taking 100 miligrams each of aspirin on Sunday and will until the rescue, he said. They'll also put on compression socks and will be on a special high-calorie liquid prepared and donated by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the final six hours before being removed, Manalich said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-10-10-chile-mine-collapse_N.htm

[gateley]

1. What an ordeal these men have been through! I'll be so excited

to see them free!

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. I suspect there will be a 3D movie deal

[The Doctor.]

4. Such cine-cism.

[adamuu]

13. groan n/t

[malaise]

3. I can't wait

At last a feel good story.

[jimlup]

5. While I would expect the pressure difference would cause some problems...

I think they may be overly nervous here. Such an ascent isn't that unprecedented. Just get in a plane and fly up 2000' in 20 minutes - this is done all the time.

[canetoad]

6. You can't blame those on the surface

For wanting to take every precaution possible to make sure the rescue goes without a hitch.

This rescue has been extremely impressive so far; they have tried to cover all the bases with Plans A,B & C, design and construction of the rescue capsule, preparation of the men underground, sleeving the rescue shaft....it would be remiss to take event the smallest chance that something could go pear-shaped during the final phase.

[Merlot]

7. Except that these men have been living under a lot of stress

both physical and mental. After getting this close to rescue, I'm glad they're taking every precaution.

[onenote]

14. isn't the difference that in a plane you're in a pressurized cabin

the pressure inside the cabin doesn't change all that much as you ascend, right?

I'm asking, because that's what I understood and would like to know if my understanding was incorrect.

[jimlup]

16. Don't get me wrong... I want them to take every possible precaution

But I'm talking about a standard air prop plane like a Cessna single engine. They climb to 2000' plus without a second thought in much less time than it will take the miners to ascend. I would not think we are talking a huge pressure change here. That's all...

[riderinthestorm]

8. Heh, it doesn't say if the miners are being altruistic and fighting to BE the last

or whether they're really fighting to NOT be the last....

Very revealing of the social dynamics of what's been going on underground. A movie for sure, even if its a Spanish language film shown solely south of the US border.

[PaulaFarrell]

9. Yes it does

"They were fighting with us yesterday because everyone wanted to be at the end of the line, not the beginning," he said

[hobbit709]

11. The ones who have their wives AND mistresses waiting

probably want to be last.

[pinboy3niner]

15. MSNBC reported being last is desirable to get in the Guinness Book

The last one out will win the title as the miner who spent the longest period trapped underground (and I'd guess that could also lead to money-making opportunities).

[VMI Dem]

10. On NPR they said they are arguing over who is going to be first.

:shrug:

[rug]

12. i'm glad they haven't lost their manners after being buried alive for two months.