New Independent Trial Confirms Safeback SBX Extends Avalanche Survival Fivefold
For decades, avalanche rescue has revolved around one harsh fact: after 15 minutes under the snow, survival rates drop fast due to asphyxiation. But new technology is rewriting that timeline. Norwegian company Safeback recently put its SBX avalanche survival system through an independent clinical trial, with results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and they’re groundbreaking.
The study found the SBX can extend survival time for buried victims by up to five times. Making it one of the most important safety innovation since the avalanche airbag.
The Critical Problem: Why We Suffocate
Most fatal avalanche accidents, nearly two-thirds, are caused by asphyxiation. When buried, a victim’s exhaled carbon dioxide quickly fills the small air pocket around their face, cutting oxygen levels and leading to unconsciousness and death. While avalanche rescue relies on fast companion response. Even the most skilled teams often need more than 15 minutes to locate and dig out a victim.
The Trial: Buried Volunteers and Groundbreaking Results
To test the SBX, researchers at Eurac Research’s Institute for Mountain Emergency Medicine ran a fully independent, double-blind clinical trial. This wasn’t a lab simulation, 24 volunteers were completely buried face-down under 50 cm of dense, avalanche-like snow.
Key Findings from the JAMA Study:
- Control Group (Placebo Device): Volunteers reached critical oxygen levels (below 80%) after a median of just 6.4 minutes.
- SBX Group (Functioning Device): None of the participants using the SBX experienced dangerously low oxygen. Their median burial time hit 35 minutes, the maximum limit of the study
In short, the Safeback SBX extended the survival window by nearly five times, giving rescuers a far greater chance to locate and dig out buried victims alive.
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How the Technology Works (No Mouthpiece Required)
The Safeback SBX works on a simple but revolutionary idea, using the natural porosity of snow to supply fresh air. The device is a compact, battery-powered fan unit built into compatible backpacks from brands like Db and Raide Research.
- Activation: The user activates the system by pulling a T-shaped handle, similar to an airbag trigger.
- Air Flow:The fan draws air from the snowpack behind the victim’s back, where it’s less contaminated by exhaled CO₂.
- Delivery: Fresh, oxygen-rich air travels through two flexible hoses in the shoulder straps, feeding clean air to the breathing area around the victim’s face.
This steady airflow prevents deadly CO₂ buildup while delivering fresh oxygen from the surrounding snow, even if the victim is buried without an air pocket. The system runs for up to 90 minutes in temperatures as low as -22°F, exceeding the typical rescue timeline.
A Supplement, Not a Substitute
The researchers strongly emphasize that the Safeback SBX is not a replacement for traditional avalanche safety gear. Therefore, every backcountry enthusiast must still carry and know how to use the essential trio: beacon, shovel, and probe.
The SBX is designed as a powerful last line of defense, a critical tool that delays the onset of asphyxiation, bridging the gap between burial and rescue. Ultimately, this new data sets a precedent, moving the conversation from if a buried person can survive to how long they can survive, making deep backcountry missions safer than ever before.
