Decompression Sickness (The Bends)

Covering days as Operations officer this weekend has seen me juggling incidents with staffing.
Crews have been dealing with a variety of incidents across the patch. It has also been busy with events which also increase our demand.

The local coastguards and lifeboats have also been busy with a variety of incidents including sinking yachts, persons in the water and divers with decompression sickness.

Decompression sickness, also called the bends is caused by Nitrogen bubbles forming in the bloodstream and tissues of the body, these bubbles occur if a diver moves from deep water to the surface to quickly. Symptoms normally occur soon after the dive has finished and can include headache, vertigo, fatigue, rash , joint pain, weakness, paralysis, breathing problems, shock, unconsciousness and even death .Locally most divers who show symptoms of Decompression Sickness are flown by the Coastguard helicopter to the landing site at Whitecliff where they are met by a an ambulance and specialist dive doctor from the decompression chamber. Once assessed and transferred the divers will normally be placed in a decompression chamber.
A decompression chamber is a steel tank that can be pressurised. The pressure in a decompression chamber can be increased by closing the doors and pumping air in.During treatment for decompression sickness,typically the pressure is increased to correspond to the pressure found 18m under water. The diver breathes pure oxygen through a mask, which improves exhalation of nitrogen.  Pressure in the chamber is reduced gradually until the diver reaches surface pressure again.Treatment typically lasts between five and six hours.Throughout treatment a specially trained helper stays with the diver in the chamber. The diver's condition is closely monitored by further examination of coordination and balance, sense of touch, etc.

 What if you or a friend have symptoms?

• Stop the dive and keep calm.
• If the diver is unconscious, give first aid.
• Summon the emergency services immediately.
• Breathe pure oxygen if possible.
• Avoid over-exertion.
• Drink plenty of liquid.
• Any unusual condition after a dive could be decompression sickness.
•  So if in doubt, get medical help.

Emergency services clearing the landing site at Whitecliff ready for the arrival of the Coastguard helicopter with two divers on Saturday.

Have a good week and stay safe.