Vacuum exposure

Vacuum exposure was when a person was exposed to an airless environment, such as outer space; without proper protection from an EV suit or life support belt. Symptoms of exposure to the vacuum of space varied from species to species.
For most Humanoid races, exposure to a vacuum for much longer than a minute and a half was fatal. In fact, useful consciousness only lasted about fifteen seconds, with ten seconds of extreme disorientation, then passing out. ()
When Spock was battling a Gorn on the bridge of the disabled starship Cayuga he lunged a railing into the helmet of the Gorn's environmental suit, thereby puncturing it, causing air to suddenly release from the suit, exposing him to the vacuum and eventually killing him. ()
In 2368, when Doctor Beverly Crusher and Lieutenant Geordi La Forge were taking inventory of supply cannisters in a cargo bay of the and a disaster caused them to be trapped in there; it became apparent that they needed to jettison the cargo bay because the radiation from a nearby plasma fire was high enough that it could cause the flammable containers to explode. They find something to hold onto so that they won't get blown out, and before they jettison the cargo bay, Beverly explains to Geordi "Once the air is vented, the first thing you'll feel is extreme pressure in your lungs... you'll have to resist the temptation to exhale. Next, your hands and feet will get cold, then numb...and some of the capillaries in exposed sections of skin may burst." She continued with the explanation, and after intentionally hyperventilating, they jettisoned the air and the containers; putting the fire out, as well exposing the two of them to the vacuum. luckilly the doctor was able to get to the console and close the door and repressurize the cargo bay. ()
In 2376, Mortimer Harren told a distracted William Telfer: "If you want something to fantasize about, try imagining how it'll feel if our hull is breached and we die of vacuum exposure. Our blood will vaporize and our cell membranes will rupture. Surely you know the symptoms better than I do." ()
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Category:Medical conditions