The African Business Journal: Doctors warn against alcohol for trapped Chilean miners

Doctors warn against alcohol for trapped Chilean miners
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World News on 01 September, 2010 05:43:00
 
TABJ Sep 1 - Chilean miners, who have been trapped for 26 days, have been told
by NASA doctors that they must forgo cigarettes and alcohol.
The 33 miners are undergoing rescue efforts that may take two to four months.
Though miners added wine and cigarettes to a list of items they wanted, doctors
aren’t recommending alcohol and have been sending nicotine patches and gum
in lieu of cigarettes.
James Michael Duncan NASA’s deputy chief doctor said to Reuters,
“From the alcohol standpoint, we need to first get their nutrition up
before we make any considerations there."
The miners, who each lost an estimated 10 kg during the 17 days they were
trapped without help, have been given high protein and high calorie foods sent
to them in plastic tubes down a narrow shaft.
Duncan added, "It's an environment that's pretty enclosed and we don't want to
contribute to any of the problems within the atmosphere of the mine."