The 2011 Defence and Security Winner - Frontline Oxygen

When a soldier is injured in action, one of the first things he or she needs is oxygen. An injured soldier suffering from blood loss, shallow breathing or a weak pulse needs to be assisted with this valuable gas as quickly as possible in order to prevent hypoxia, which can lead to unconsciousness, coma or even death.

The period immediately following injury is known as the ’golden hour’, but getting concentrated oxygen to injured soldiers within this time has proved notoriously problematic for combat medics due to the size and weight of oxygen generators.

The demand for portable oxygen generators for the army has risen steeply since the UK’s involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. The MoD would undoubtedly agree that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have become one of the most significant threats to soldiers in these countries. The blast injuries they inflict can result in significant blood loss and, in addition, IED shockwaves can cause a condition known as blast lung, which inhibits a soldier’s oxygen uptake.