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Oakley sunglasses help miners during rescue! |
The 33 miners trapped underground in Chile have reportedly started a regime designed for fighter pilots to prepare them for their ascent to the surface, and would be provided with sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sunlight when they reach the surface.
On August 5, the roof of the Copiapo copper-gold mine collapsed, leaving 33 miners trapped at approximately 700 metres underground.
According to The Telegraph, Oakley, the American-based eyewear giant, will be providing sunglasses to the miners so that their eyes could be protected from ultraviolet rays. Doctors have warned that sudden exposure to light after such a long period of stay underground could damage their retinas. They will also be given medication to protect against common germs.
Dr Jean Romagnoli, a sports physician who is looking after the miners' physical fitness, said that the miners will have to perform 20 minutes of aerobic exercise every day until they are rescued to prevent muscle cramps during the rescue operation. "Finally, they will have to fast for eight hours before they make the journey up," he added.
The miners will also be closely monitored to check whether they have developed any fungal or skin infection in the humid atmosphere underground, the paper said.
Image: A volunteer shows a special pair of sunglasses that will be used by the 33 miners after their eventual rescue | Photograph: Luis Hidalgo/Reuters