What is a Gamow Bag and how is it used?

• A. An airtight bag used to store oxygen tanks.
• B. An airtight bag used to simulate sea-level pressure to treat HAPE by reinflating air inside so the climber can breathe again.
• C. A bag used to shelter from wind.
• D. A bag used for transporting gear.

Answer: (B)

A Gamow Bag is a portable hyperbaric chamber. It’s an airtight bag that a climber sits inside, and a companion uses a pump to compress the bag so the interior reaches a sea-level-like pressure. This higher pressure increases the amount of oxygen available in the lungs, helping the climber breathe more easily and, importantly, improving oxygenation during altitude illness. It’s used to treat high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and other severe altitude symptoms while waiting for descent, essentially buying time by temporarily restoring a breathable environment. It’s not for storing gear, sheltering from wind, or transporting equipment—the purpose is to provide temporary, enhanced oxygenation through increased ambient pressure.