The miners have been asked to fast for eight hours before their ride to the surface. They are reportedly on a NASA-prepared liquid diet high in potassium and other minerals to prevent nausea and cardiac arrest. They are also taking aspirin, which doctors say should help during the trip to the surface.
The men will wear special clothing, including compression socks and a girdle. "The idea is using pressure garments to force the fluid up, which helps keep the blood pressure up, so you don't pass out with your knees locked," Dr. J.D. Polk, deputy chief medical officer at NASA, told the Columbus Dispatch.
During the ride up, the men will wear an oxygen mask and a telephone headset to talk with the rescue team at the surface, according to ABC News. A video camera will be trained on their faces. They will emerge wearing green overalls emblazoned with their name, and $450 Oakley sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun.
