Visiting the oxygen production station at the training site of a brigade of the 77th Group Army
2024-08-16
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This article is transferred from [China Military Network];
Plateau oxygen production: I breathe with my comrades
——Visiting the oxygen production station at the training site of a brigade of the 77th Group Army
Fu Yu Liberation Army Daily special correspondent Li Jiahao
The car was driving in the wilderness of yellow and green, with dark clouds hanging in the distance. Soon, the car window was covered by the hot air and the vision began to blur. Suddenly, there was a "crackling" sound, and the sudden hail kept hitting the car body. The whistling wind made the reporter wrap up tightly in cotton clothes... If you have not experienced it yourself, it is hard to imagine that during the dog days of summer, when the mainland is in the heat, the plateau is like this.
Equally unimaginable is the difficulty of breathing - on this plateau where the oxygen content is less than 60% of that in the mainland, every breath is a bit breathless, so that many officers and soldiers who have just arrived here will suffer from altitude sickness to varying degrees.
"By the way, where does the oxygen come from?" Although I often travel on plateaus, this is the first time I've noticed oxygen bags on a vehicle. Ke Hua, a propaganda officer from a brigade of the 77th Group Army, told me, "There is a special oxygen production station at the brigade's training site. Why don't we go take a look?"
Just like that, the car stopped at a corner of the brigade's field training area, and a field oxygen station appeared in front of the reporter. The oxygen station consists of a camping tent and an oxygen-generating cabin connected together. Because open flames and electric sparks must be eliminated when making oxygen, in order to minimize safety hazards, there are no other facilities in the camping tent except for a field camp bed and a desk, which makes it look a bit empty. Walking into the tent, the huge noise generated by the oxygen-generating cabin when it is working makes the reporter, who already has a headache due to altitude sickness, even more uncomfortable.
"It will take some time to get used to it," said the brigade's oxygen producer, Staff Sergeant Wang Chengzhi. "To ensure our comrades' oxygen needs, this machine is on standby all the time."
"Let's go and talk outside the tent." Wang Chengzhi pointed to the bunk inside. "Another comrade and I work in shifts. Don't disturb him." Then, as if realizing something, he added, "Soldiers may come to refill oxygen at any time. We are used to falling asleep to the roar of the machines, but we will be woken up by the sound of talking."
Wang Chengzhi told the reporter about the past. In the past, the brigade did not have the conditions to produce oxygen, and oxygen had to be transported by car for dozens of kilometers to a nearby support point. Not only was there a safety hazard in the transportation process, but the reserves were only enough for medical use. Once, a soldier was diagnosed with chronic plateau disease during a physical examination. The doctor diagnosed that it was caused by long-term hypoxia. This incident made the brigade leaders determined: "Maintaining health is to maintain combat effectiveness. We must find ways to care for the health of officers and soldiers so that everyone can guard the plateau in a better state."
"Afterwards, the brigade opened an oxygen production station, realizing the transformation from 'medical oxygen' to 'health oxygen inhalation'. I became the first oxygen producer in the brigade." Wang Chengzhi proudly told reporters, "From the day I took up the post, I set a rule for myself that as long as my comrades need it, I will always provide support for them."
The soldiers of the brigade are receiving oxygen. Photo by Fu Junnan
When Wang Chengzhi was talking, the reporter noticed a detail - he rubbed his red and swollen hands from time to time. It turned out that even in midsummer, the temperature on the plateau at night was only 4 or 5 degrees Celsius; most of the year, it was in "winter" here. In addition, special liquid medicine was required for oxygen production, so his hands were red and swollen all year round, and he could only relieve the itching by rubbing them from time to time.
As they were talking, soldiers came to fill oxygen bottles. Wang Chengzhi held an empty cylinder in each hand, skillfully opened the valve, adjusted the pressure, and filled more than a dozen bottles of oxygen in a few minutes. During this time, he reminded his comrades: "Come to me anytime when you run out!" A soldier responded: "Thanks to your sufficient oxygen supply, this batch of new recruits have adapted to the environment much faster than before..."
"We'll help you load the car." As the reporters worked together to lift a cylinder that was half a person's height. After everyone finished loading five cylinders, Wang Chengzhi had already neatly stacked the remaining oxygen cylinders on the car. "Take it easy. Even walking on the plateau is like carrying a heavy load in the mainland. Unlike me, I'm used to it."
When I say "accustomed", I don't mean I'm used to the plateau, but I'm used to the hardships of the plateau. "It's so hard, have you ever considered changing your job?" Facing the reporter's question, Wang Chengzhi seemed to be lost in thought, or trying to even out his breathing. After a brief silence, Wang Chengzhi said, "Last year, the brigade selected the 'most beautiful plateau fighter'. I thought I hadn't done anything earth-shattering, but I was selected. Do you know what the award speech said?"
"'Since they have been working silently and making contributions without making any noise, their work may go unnoticed like oxygen, but it is indispensable.' The brigade leader also said that since the oxygen production station was built, no soldiers in the brigade have fallen ill due to long-term lack of oxygen." As he spoke, Wang Chengzhi's eyes flashed with a light as bright as the clear sky on the plateau, and the reporter also found the answer from his seemingly irrelevant words.
As we were talking, the tent curtain was lifted, and the soldier who had been catching up on his sleep came out and joined our chat.
"Squad leader Wang has made great efforts to produce oxygen." The soldier is named Wang Kanghao, and he is Wang Chengzhi's "apprentice". He said:
"During the Chinese New Year and other holidays, many family members come to visit the team, and that's when oxygen consumption is highest. He has never taken a break during statutory holidays in recent years. For several years, he ate dumplings in front of the oxygen concentrator on New Year's Eve."
"Sparks are strictly prohibited. Mobile phones and other electronic devices must be stored in metal cabinets. Once inside the oxygen station, there is no contact with the outside world. During one shift, the squad leader's family had an emergency. His family called him more than a dozen times but no one answered. Finally, they contacted the instructor to find him. On the other end of the phone, my sister-in-law was so anxious that she burst into tears."
"The squad leader and I had to take turns on duty. I suggested a 50-50 split for the night shift, but he said, 'Young people should stay up less late.' In the end, we decided on 70% for him and 30% for me, to take the best possible care of me."
"besides……"
When talking about his squad leader, Wang Kanghao has endless stories and words to say. Hearing this, the veteran seemed a little embarrassed, and the "highland red" on his face became even redder.
"They are just trivial matters..." During the conversation, Wang Chengzhi frequently "interrupted" them. Wang Kanghao said, "You work so hard, and you don't allow me to talk?"
"What about you?" Wang Kanghao was stunned for a moment when asked by the reporter. He rubbed his hands, which were as red and swollen as Wang Chengzhi's, and said, "I'm used to it. I don't think it's that hard..."
On the majestic plateau, ordinary oxygen is a rare resource. The soldiers at the plateau oxygen station, with their ordinary and persevering dedication, ensure that their comrades can breathe sufficient and pure oxygen. Their sentinels make the military motto of "Breathing together, sharing the same fate" real, concrete and vivid.
