Independent Clinical Trial Confirms Safeback SBX Significantly Increases Avalanche Survival Time, Published in JAMA

October 10, 2025

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, after an avalanche simulation in 2023, where 24 volunteers were buried to test and better understand the effects of Safeback SBX

BOLZANO, ITALY /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Safeback today announced that the results of an independent, double-blind clinical trial of its SBX avalanche survival system have been published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study, led by Eurac Research’s Institute for Mountain Emergency Medicine, demonstrated that the SBX system can increase survival time fivefold for individuals buried in an avalanche.

The trial, conducted in 2023 with complete independence from Safeback, involved 24 volunteers who were buried face-down under 50 cm of avalanche-density snow. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group, using placebo SBX devices, or an SBX group, equipped with functioning SBX devices.

Key Findings from the JAMA-Published Study:

• Control Group: Four of 12 volunteers requested the experiment be stopped due to distress, and seven had their burials terminated after a median of 6.4 minutes due to oxygen saturation falling below 80 percent, as required by protocol.
• SBX Group: No participant buried with a functioning SBX device had their experiment stopped due to low oxygen saturation. Their median burial time was 35 minutes, reaching the maximum duration planned for the experiment.
• Conclusion: Researchers noted, “In a real-life situation, emergency services or the victim’s companions would likely have had more than five times as much time to respond [with SBX], and potential cardiac arrest would occur much later.”

Eurac Research has published its own press release with further details from the study, accessible here: LINK TO EURAC PRESS RELEASE: Avalanches: user-carried safety device increases survival time fivefold.

“Safeback was founded with a goal-zero vision: a world without avalanche fatalities,” stated Tor Berge, Safeback’s CEO and Co-founder. “SBX is a critical step toward that future—not a miracle device, but a vital last line of defense. By supplying burial victims with a continuous supply of fresh air, SBX helps buried victims stay alive longer, giving rescuers more time to reach them alive. We know survival depends on more than one tool. That’s why SBX stands alongside continued education, advanced prevention methods, and cutting-edge rescue technologies. Together, these efforts bring us closer than ever to our vision.”

About Safeback SBX:

Safeback SBX is a patented, battery-powered air pump system that leverages the natural porosity of snow to circulate fresh, breathable air from the snowpack behind a buried victim’s back to their face via the backpack’s shoulder straps. This continuous airflow delays asphyxia, even in the absence of an air pocket, as demonstrated in the recent study.

Designed for simplicity and reliability, the lightweight SBX unit (520g) features only three moving parts, occupying approximately 0.75L in a compatible backpack’s main compartment. Activated by a T-shaped handle, similar to avalanche airbags, SBX offers a critical survival advantage at half the weight and cost of a standard airbag system. It operates for 90 minutes at -22°F / -30°C using readily available Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries.

SBX is integrated into avalanche backpacks developed by leading outdoor brands. For the clinical trial, volunteers wore the Snow Pro Vest 8L from Db. Currently, SBX-equipped backpacks are available from Db, Raide Research, and Bergans of Norway through specialty retailers worldwide. Specialized products for avalanche professionals and military users are also available by special order.

About Safeback:

Safeback is an innovative outdoor safety company dedicated to developing technologies that enhance survival in avalanche incidents. Through rigorous research and cutting-edge engineering, Safeback aims to contribute to a world with zero avalanche fatalities.

Additional Resources:

• March 2023: Eurac Research Conducts Independent Medical Trial of Safeback SBX
• February 2023: Safeback Granted US Patent for SBX Avalanche Survival System

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Press Contacts

Safeback

William Sherman

CMO

william.sherman@safeback.no

+47 462 48 882

USA:

Eric Henderson

Meteorite PR

ehenderson@meteoritepr.com

+1 307 690-2984

Media kit

Safeback SBX – Clinical Trial Results Video

JAMA Study Link