Hyperbaric Chamber
Provided that you dive within your limits and follow advice of your dive center professionals, the risk of developing Decompression sickness (DCS) is minimal. It is unadvisable to dive if you are under the influence of alcohol and drugs, dehydration, ill health or using certain prescribed medications.
DCS is also known as “the bends” and is a result of inadequate decompression following exposure to increased pressure. Symptoms and signs usually appear within 15 minutes to 12 hours after surfacing, but in severe cases, it may appear before surfacing or immediately afterwards. Delayed occurrence of symptoms is rare, but can occur, especially if air travel follows diving.
Symptoms include:
- Unusual tiredness
- Skin itch
- Pain in joints and or muscles of the arms, legs and torso
- Dizziness, vertigo ringing in the ear
- Numbness, tingling and paralysis
- Shortness of breath
Sigs of DCS:
- Skin may show blotchy rash
- Paralysis, muscle weakness
- Difficulty urinating
- Confusion, personality changes, bizarre behavior
- Amnesia, tremors
- Staggering
- Coughing up bloody, frothy sputum
- Collapse or unconsciousness
