Cutting Edge Combined Helicopter & Immersion Suit
07 November 2005
VIKING has developed a cutting edge, high quality combined helicopter and immersion suit with integrated lifejacket that eliminates the need to change from one suit to another on arrival offshore.
The PS4173 suit is the first and only suit of its kind on the market that protects against suspension induced shock syndrome.
The danger from hypothermia isn't over when the evacuee is hoisted from the water
When the body begins to cool down, the automatic reaction is to protect the vital inner organs. Circulation to the extremities - the arms and legs, hands and feet are reduced and the warm blood retained in the torso. This mechanism is essential for survival.
Suspension induced shock syndrome occurs when a hypothermic person is lifted from their horizontal position in the water by a lifting becket that raises them in an upright position. Warm blood flows away from the inner organs down into the legs and in turn cold blood is sent into circulation. When the cold blood reaches the heart it can cause a fatal cardiac arrest.
VIKING improves survival chances during evacuation from water
Traditional lifting beckets do not take suspension induced cold shock syndrome into account. They lift the evacuee from the water in an almost vertical position, causing warm blood to drain away from the torso and sending cold blood into circulation.
The specially designed lifting becket on VIKING's PS4137 is the first to ensure a horizontal lifting position when evacuating from water, dramatically reducing the risk of fatality through suspension induced shock syndrome. Cold blood remains in the extremities during hoisting, supporting the body's own hypothermia defence mechanism and improving the evacuee's survival chances.
From helicopter transportation to onboard platform
Combining proven, high quality suits to make the ultimate combination
VIKING's PS4173 is the first suit that combines a quality immersion suit with a quality helicopter transportation suit. Once on the platform, this 2 in 1 approved helicopter transportation suit is transformed into an approved immersion suit simply by screwing the inflation mechanism with the bobbin into the automatic inflation system, making the suit into a self-turning immersion suit.
The suit combines excellent comfort with maximum durability. It is made from strong, extra durable nylon with a Gore-TexTM moisture barrier that allows the skin to breathe. The maintenance free spiral zipper makes it fast and easy to close and there are no zipper teeth that can trap inner clothing. The excellent fit provides extra comfort for extended wear during transportation to and from the platform, and for maximum protection from water ingress in case of emergency.
Unlike any other transportation suit with a re-breather, VIKING's PS4173 exceeds the stipulated requirements by featuring additional compressed air equivalent to 6 litres. Re-breathers re-circulate a minimum amount of air, designed to give the wearer time to escape from a submersed position. VIKING's new system bears in mind that breathing becomes faster when under stress and gives wearers the security that they have 6 litres of extra air supply giving them more time to escape. The additional air supply is designed to be released manually or automatically into the re-breather when required. The extra time VIKING's ADS re-breather gives can be crucial when escaping from a ditched helicopter.
