Thanks for bringing up this article, again, Roger, for it's a pretty serious problem as you pointed out in your paper.
We've discussed this in our SAR unit and after observing several good points in this discussion, I thought I'd go and see what was on the Internet.
Needless to say, there's some interesting stuff out there; and, this link will take you to some commercial sites that are selling straps to help one out of the problem...if they work.
http://www.bing.com/search?q=suspension ... =2&sc=8-15I recall seeing this first discussed and shown at the Bend Convention in 1982, so checked to see what Smith and Padgett had in their
On Rope book and on pages 190-191 is, IMHO, a much better strap then the commercial ones. Of course, I didn't check them all out, for most of them were straight up-and-down lengths of nylon webbing. The one that's in Allen and Bruce's book shows a "Y" strap, if you will, and if you visualize it upside down, it makes much more sense; thus, the shorter section would attach to your sit harness and the two longer straps with sewn foot loops would be where you place your feet, so that you can stand and get some of that blood flowing. In the book, they're called "relief straps" and a good name they are. I don't know if CaveDoc pointed out that this happens mainly on long rappells or not, but on shorter raps of a 100'-150', I don't believe one would be in a serious situation. (I'm not trying to start another topic, but just seeing if anyone wanted to add to that.)
Finally, if I find a picture that I have at the last convention in the climbing contest, then this might show Sungura what that position would look like (believe she even tried it out), although that stick drawing would suffice. I wouldn't think it would be very comfortable, though,...and would not ease the problem of prolonged suspension. But the relief straps would. Etrier's might be a second choice, but I believe the one in On Rope is superior for this problem. What say you Roger?