I suspect that the kids were given an anti anxiety medication to make them less susceptible to panic.

I doubt that, for the reasons given. But I would expect that the SEALs made an assessment of the most likely to make it and started with them.

 

CNN is saying that 8 boys are out, 4 plus the coach remain.

 

@cmartinez : Are you sure that constantly changing the thread title is a good idea? Remember, this is not a news blog, but rather an archival forum. Consider the people that will come across this thread in the future. Most people expect the first post to be related to the thread title (and vice versa).

Mmmhh ... no ... as a matter of fact, I think it's a terrible idea ...

Thing is, I'm not the one who's been changing the thread's title ...

 

About 24 hours ago I came across a Thai site that said in English that all of the boys were out and receiving care in a hospital, along with a photo showing ambulances leaving a parking area. Clearly, something was mis-translated or maybe it was pre-news.

As of tonight local time the Straits Times (Singapore) reported that a total of eight are out and rescue operations have shut down for the day. Amusingly in some parts of the article they mention only four being out. Must be tough editing a story that changes while its being edited.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...thai-cave-rescue-9-footballers-remain-trapped

 

Mmmhh ... no ... as a matter of fact, I think it's a terrible idea ...

Thing is, I'm not the one who's been changing the thread's title ...

Hmmm. I just assumed that you were, since you are the thread starter. I'll have to look into it some more. Thanks for letting me know.

 

About 24 hours ago I came across a Thai site that said in English that all of the boys were out and receiving care in a hospital, along with a photo showing ambulances leaving a parking area. Clearly, something was mis-translated or maybe it was pre-news.

As of tonight local time the Straits Times (Singapore) reported that a total of eight are out and rescue operations have shut down for the day. Amusingly in some parts of the article they mention only four being out. Must be tough editing a story that changes while its being edited.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...thai-cave-rescue-9-footballers-remain-trapped

I can see that kind of mistake being real easy to make. Consider the difference in meaning between (1) all of the boys are out and receiving care in a hospital compared to (s) all of the boys that are out are receiving care in a hospital. Few translations are done by someone that is truly fluent in both languages, and so they often don't realize the huge semantic difference that word choice and word order make in many languages.

 

I suspect that the kids were given an anti anxiety medication to make them less susceptible to panic.

Possible, I suppose. But the advantages would have to be carefully weighed against any possible side-effects under pressure. Generally speaking, diving on any kind of medication, even common over-the-counter stuff, is discouraged without careful consideration.

I doubt that, for the reasons given. But I would expect that the SEALs made an assessment of the most likely to make it and started with them.

We may or may not eventually find out. The Thai government has been treating the event like a state secret. They acknowledge basic facts half a day or more after they occur, won't let parents see their rescued children, even through glass and when they hold a "press conference" it's to berate the media for using a drone and listening to unencrypted police radio transmissions.

The rescuers are using some type of LF, MF or HF cave radio system, probably Cave-Link but possibly Nicola, Fauchez, Ferra or other. I've seen no reporting on this yet.

With over 1000 people working the rescue, you'd think the interior ministry could assign one as a public information officer for media contact. Come on; it's 2018 and the world wants to know what flavor of protein energy gel the kids are eating.

 

I doubt that, for the reasons given. But I would expect that the SEALs made an assessment of the most likely to make it and started with them.

All of the reports I've seen indicated that they started with the boys in the worst shape (which probably includes both physical and mental condition). I can see several reasons for that. First (and probably foremost), they would be the ones that would be most likely to degrade the most over the course of the two or three days it is taking to complete the rescue, something that would be accelerated by the sense of being left behind as others are taken out. Second, as the number of people in the cave dwindles, each remaining person has an increasingly disproportionate impact on the others, so you want the last group to be the most well-situated. Third, they would be the most likely to really go to pieces if there were any failures on the first round of rescue attempts. Fourth, the eyes of the world are looking at the whole thing and I imagine the notion of being seen as leaving the most vulnerable till last wouldn't play well.

Of course, there are reasonable arguments going the other way, as well. Seeing a few successful exits could really bolster their confidence. Plus, taking the weakest out first increases the chances of an early failure and all of the fallout associated with that. Although I suspect that the remaining boys in the cave would not hear about any failures until after they are out -- they may well not yet know about the death of the SEAL.

 

I heard that the first group out was a mix of weak and strong kids.

 

I heard that the first group out was a mix of weak and strong kids.

Not what I've been seeing, but not at all surprising that the reports are at odds. We'll probably have to wait for that book to have a real idea. I hope that it (they) go into detail on stuff like this and not just be sensationalized tripe (though I'm sure there will be that, too).

 

We'll probably have to wait for that book to have a real idea.

nah ... I'll wait for the movie instead ... *sarcasm* to get an objective, unabridged, straight-forward, and fair-and-balanced view of the events *end sarcasm* ...

 

nah ... I'll wait for the movie instead ... *sarcasm* to get an objective, unabridged, straight-forward, and fair-and-balanced view of the events *end sarcasm* ... View attachment 155914

Yeah, I was going to make some remark concerning the inevitable movie that will come out, but couldn't even begin to come up with a way of phrasing it that would be deemed, err... appropriate (not and still get my sentiments across).

Very few movies do any historical event true justice and it seems like virtually none do so unless they are made at least a couple decades after the fact.

 

I heard that the first group out was a mix of weak and strong kids.

Somebody had to decide who went first. The SEALs set the ground rules but they may have decided it was best to leave it up to the kids themselves to choose. Draw straws, whatever. Maintaining morale and a positive attitude contributes to success and that might have been chosen as the most important variable. The SEALs though, would understand the need to judge such decisions after the fact in their after-action-reports. They know every decision and action will be scrutinized even if things turn out well. If things go south, all the more.

 

They know every decision and action will be scrutinized even if things turn out well. If things go south, all the more.

and that explains the Thai government's opacity regarding this whole thing ... I can't say I blame them ... but not allowing the kids to see their parents immediately is over the top, I think.

 

... but not allowing the kids to see their parents immediately is over the top, I think.

I've heard that all the parents resolved to stand together at the mine and hold vigil until all are out. I've also heard the rescued boys are in a type of quarantine while they are stabilized. If the Thai government is actually preventing communication and contact, that indeed would be over the top. I just think it's hard to tell what the hell is going on.

 

and that explains the Thai government's opacity regarding this whole thing ... I can't say I blame them ... but not allowing the kids to see their parents immediately is over the top, I think.

What I had read in a few places (but probably all from the same source) is that the boys in the hospital are quarantined because of the concern of high vulnerability to infection after so long in a dark, damp environment (with little to no food before they were found) but that family could see them through the glass. I would hope that they can talk with their parents while in quarantine and that the quarantine wouldn't last too long.

EDIT: And apparently they are also being quarantined because of their prolonged exposure to bat droppings that can carry infection diseases.

 

I heard that the first group out was a mix of weak and strong kids.

Now I'm finding every mix available on this. In articles posted within the last twelve hours that seem pretty comprehensive one states flatly that the strongest are being brought out first because they have the best chance of survival while the other states just as flatly that the weakest are being brought out first to get them to medical care as swiftly as possible.

So it's the good 'ole Fog of War. Wait for the book.

 

What I had read in a few places (but probably all from the same source) is that the boys in the hospital are quarantined because of the concern of high vulnerability to infection after so long in a dark, damp environment (with little to no food before they were found) but that family could see them through the glass. I would hope that they can talk with their parents while in quarantine and that the quarantine wouldn't last too long.

Fog of War again. Just read an article stating that the identities of the children rescued thus far are being withheld from the families out of respect for the families that still have kids in there.

But I suspect that this is a mistranslation and what they meant to say is that the identities of the children rescued thus far are not being released to the public out of respect for the families that still have kids in there.

Wait for the book.

 

Fog of War again. Just read an article stating that the identities of the children rescued thus far are being withheld from the families out of respect for the families that still have kids in there.

But I suspect that this is a mistranslation and what they meant to say is that the identities of the children rescued thus far are not being released to the public out of respect for the families that still have kids in there.

Wait for the book.

I'm thinking ... the lives of those children will forever be changed after this ... they'll schedule endless TV interviews, will probably participate in children's programs and soap operas ... not to mention cereal commercials and the promotion of sport products and drinks ...

What's going to happen to the unfortunate coach? ... He's still young (he's 25, form what I gather) and so the consequences of this adventure will resonate through the rest of his life ... I hope he gets a fair treatment and doesn't lose his career opportunities in the field of education ...

 

I'm thinking ... the lives of those children will forever be changed after this ... they'll schedule endless TV interviews, will probably participate in children's programs and soap operas ... not to mention cereal commercials and the promotion of sport products and drinks ...

What's going to happen to the unfortunate coach? ... He's still young (he's 25, form what I gather) and so the consequences of this adventure will resonate through the rest of his life ... I hope he gets a fair treatment and doesn't lose his career opportunities in the field of education ...

It's really hard to say the impact it will have on the kids -- I suspect that the impact will be highly individual with some looking back and saying that it was the best thing that happened to them because of how they matured and changed and looked at life from a different perspective and how it led them to commit their lives to some worthy cause. Others might spiral down into drugs and suicide. And whatever happens it will probably be impossible to separate the effect of the experience itself from the effect of the publicity that will follow.

As for the coach, I think he has a good chance of coming out okay. Initially there were lots of knee-jerk reactions claiming that he was completely to blame for the whole deal (plus a good share of the rest of the world's past, present, and future woes) but already it seems like it is pretty well accepted that they went into the caves before they were closed for the rainy season and that it was unexpected early heavy rains that were to blame. The parents seem pretty united behind him (of course, that can change in a heartbeat if little Johnny doesn't make it out) and everything that I've read indicated that he has done a very commendable job of taking responsibility for keeping the kids as safe as possible and putting their welfare first. That will buy him quite a bit down the road.

Read one story that because he'd been giving much of his food to kids that his is in pretty bad shape and they may bring him out before the last of the boys. My guess is that he will refuse if they try and that, since the final call will be made by the divers in the cave, that they will honor his refusal with no more than token resistance.

Now, we don't know what we don't know and it might turn out in the end that he isn't being as gallant as it's being presented thus far -- we need to wait for that damn book.