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

October 8, 2025 | Bolzano, Italy

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:

Avalanches: user carried safety device increases survival time fivefold

Burial prep

All volunteers buried in "prone" position, on their stomachs

Dense Snow

SLF-Davos was present to control snow densities before burying the volunteers under 50cm of 400-500kg/m^3.

Burial

Volunteers could communicate with the doctors above the snow, and had the ability to be unburied at any point in time

Finished

After 40 minutes under the snow, this volunteer asked to be unburied.

“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 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.

Other Relevant Releases

Eurac Research Conducts Independent Medical Trial of Safeback SBX

Eurac Research has launched an independent study to test the validity of SBX to increase the survivability of avalanche burial - checking whether it can significantly extend survival time in the snow.

Safeback Granted US Patent for SBX Avalanche Survival System

Safeback’s patent has been granted by the US Patent Office, protecting the key concepts of the SBX System, its underlying technology, and integration into backpacks in the United States market.

Press Contact:

Eurac's press contact listed on their press release→

William Sherman

CMO

william.sherman@safeback.no

+47 462 48 882

USA:

Eric Henderson

Meteorite PR

ehenderson@meteoritepr.com

+1 307 690-2984

Press Releases

Press Coverage

Media Kits

About Safebeck

Safeback was founded in 2016 by three engineers and backcountry enthusiasts in Western Norway - Tor Berge, André Mjølhus, and Sigmund Andreassen. After analyzing the avalanche safety equipment available today, they realized that there was a lack of innovation and investment in solutions for the avalanche victim under the snow. They then set out to create user-focused products that reliably get backcountry travelers home safe. Safeback’s research and development has targeted the problem of asphyxia under the snow. Their initial product, Safeback SBX, is a breathing assistance system which actively provides clean air to the victim’s breathing area under snow, extending the survival window for up to 90 minutes.