MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

NASA experts: “hopelessness”, the worst enemy of trapped miners

Chilean Health Minister Jaime Mañalich, NASA expert James Michael Duncan, and Mining Minister Laurence Golborne discuss the rescue

A group of NASA specialists arrived Tuesday in Santiago to help the Chilean rescue team and Health and Mining ministers to assure a successful rescue mission for the 33 miners who have been trapped 700 meters underground since August 5.

Health Minister Jaime Mañalich called the group some of “the best experts in the world,” and explained to a jam-packed room of mostly national journalists how much the four experts could help.

NASA was invited to Chile because of the organization’s expertise in dealing with isolation in foreign environments — mostly, of course, their astronaut teams in space.

The four Nasa advisors have expertise in behavioural health, emergency medicine, engineering, and dealing with people who have been or are isolated for a prolonged time. NASA has also had experience with people in isolation underwater and in Antarctic areas, as well as in space.

The scientists include James Michael Duncan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer; Albert W. Holland, Operational Psychologist; J.D. Polk, Chief of the Space Medicine Division for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Johnson Space Center; and Clint Cragg, Principal Engineer.

At the press conference Tuesday afternoon the men shared some of their first insights into the emotional situation now facing Chile and its trapped miners.

Duncan, the acting spokesperson for the group, said that the “ministers had been excellent” and that the scientists were “very impressed with the level of details at this point.”

While Duncan said the group was not ready to make any official recommendation, they had been briefed and had seen video of the miners, which, Duncan said, was very “telling, in terms of their ability to organize themselves and take care of themselves.”

This type of organization is crucial, according to the group, to avoid helplessness and loss of hope in the situation. The men had “showed tremendous strength” and having a purpose and organization within the mine would help to “avoid any type of situation of hopelessness,” said Duncan.

Duncan also pointed to the important nutrition needs of the miners. He noted that as well as the sustainability of the nutrition, the variety of foods given to the men is also important, so that the men do not lose interest in the food. In addition to the miner’s basic needs of air, water, food and shelter, Duncan stressed the need for behavioural support as well as spiritual support for the miners.

One type of nutritional variety that does not seem to be sanctioned by the Health Minister or the NASA officials - as of yet - is the alcohol or cigarettes that the miners have asked for.

Duncan responded that cigarettes are especially harmful for the miners now. In addition to the adverse health effects that cigarettes will have on the miners’ fragile bodies, the smoke would further contaminate the air supply and atmosphere in the mine. Other alternatives could be discussed, he added.

Alcohol, on the other hand, seemed like a more real possibility, although not until the other health issues are resolved and the men’s weight stabilizes. Mañalich said that maybe for the bicentennial celebration on Sept. 18, the men could have a beer, though no promises were made.

The NASA group also recommended that the focus for the miners should be on the organization and routine of their new underground life, not a specific rescue date.

Duncan emphasized that in NASA programs as well, the astronauts are trained that there may be setbacks or unseen challenges that could occur. “There are many uncertainties, it is important not to build up false hopes,” he said.

Duncan noted that the miners do this for a living. They know how long drilling takes and about how deep they are, so the long duration of time before they will be rescued, estimated at three to four months, should not be a huge surprise.

The group was expected to meet with Codelco officials later Tuesday to be further briefed on the situation and will head up to the San Jose mine, around 500 miles north of Santiago. They are expected to return and leave Chile Saturday.

By Laura French – Santiago Times