The Bends Treatment - First Aid & Emergencies Quick Reference ...

Please call 911 if you think you have a medical emergency.
Self-Care at Home
The Bends Treatment
Rescue the diver from the water and provide emergency care within the limits of your
training.
• Dry and rewarm the diver with blankets if hypothermic (drop in body
temperature).
• You can visit the Divers Alert Network Web site or call them in the United
States at (919) 684-8111 to determine where the nearest hyperbaric
chamber is located.
• Transport the person in a supine position (horizontal, lying on their back)
to an emergency care facility. If a hyperbaric chamber is available, you
may coordinate to transport directly to that facility for definitive care.
• If you must use air transport, attempt to find an air frame that can transport
the diver at below 1,000 feet or pressurize the cabin to sea level pressure.
Use high-flow oxygen if it is available during transport.
Medical Treatment
The doctor will first treat immediate life threats, such as breathing problems or shock, if
present.
• The diver will need high-flow oxygen and IV fluids. Blood and urine will be
sent for laboratory tests to assess any blood clotting problems and
hydration status.
• The diver will need to go to a hyperbaric chamber (for many divers or a
single chamber) for recompression. During this process the chamber
becomes pressurized with air and oxygen based on prearranged protocols
to simulate pressure depths of 30-60 feet. Typical dives last 140-270
minutes, but may last longer. At this depth or chamber pressures, bubbles
are reduced in size or reabsorbed to ensure adequate blood flow.
Recompression prevents further bubble formation and provides high
amounts of oxygen to the injured tissues. Further treatments depend on
how the diver responds to the initial treatment.
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eMedicineHealth.com First Aid Quick Reference | Decompression Syndromes: The Bends
Treatment
• Often the person is admitted to the hospital to monitor medical condition
and to ensure that there is no recurrence of symptoms.
more information from eMedicineHealth
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Next Steps
• Prevention
• Outlook
For more information, read the complete article, Decompression Syndromes: The
Bends (http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=58666) on
http://www.emedicinehealth.com.
WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicineHealth
Reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD on May 24, 2006
Last updated: May 24, 2006
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
© 2006 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
Visit http://www.eMedicineHealth.com for first aid and consumer health information.
Copyright 2008