Recognizing Decompression Illness
*Symptoms usually appear 15 minutes to 12 hours after surfacing
Signs
Blotchy rash
Paralysis or weakness
Coughing spasms
Staggering or instability
Unconsciousness
Symptoms
Tired feeling
Itching
Pain, arms, legs or trunk
Dizziness
Numbness, tingling or paralysis
Chest compression or shortness of breath
Get help, don't commit the number 1 mistake in emergency care=
"Denial"
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Diving with nearsightedness and retinal problems
Query: I am highly short-sighted: left eye: -5 dioptrie right eye:
-18
dioptrie (yes, -18) I have had several hemorrhages in the right eye:
blood
spread into the retina, so that I saw a red spot. The physicians tell
me,
that there is a high risk for my retina to lose contact with the inner
side
of my eyeball and to swim in the eye-socket (detached retina). It´s
because
there are "thin areas" (they call it "perforations") in my retina (both
eyes). I have been lasered around these areas on both eyes to fix the
retina
to background. Hard licks on my eyes or my head are dangerous to me.
How
about pressure? Do you know anyone with the same problems (quite common
in highly short-sighted people) who have experience in diving? Can
I dive
without risking to damage my retinae?
Answer: Answers to questions are offered as information only and not
as
medical diagnosis or advice and should always be used in conjunction
with
advice from your personal diving physician.
Because the eye is a liquid system and is incompressible, it is relatively
unaffected by the pressure changes of diving.
The ability to see adequately for safe diving is important for underwater
orientation. Appropriate correction can be maintained with contacts,
correction
in the faceplate of the mask, lenses cemented to the mask or corrective
surgery for the near-sightedness.
Retinal detachment that has been repaired is not considered a contra-indication
to diving. Mask squeeze is a consideration and can be avoided by appropriate
training. You should be guided in all things by your physician who
is aware
of your peculiar case.
'Diving with Back Problems'
1. Alter your routine at work. Sitting at
a work station automatically increases lumbar lordosis.
2. Strengthen your back with appropriate exercises.
Walking might be the best.
3. Change your gear to have less weight. Small
well-fitting gear is just as safe as some of the monsters that I've seen
on divers. Delete as much weight as possible.
4. Change your weighting; train for less weight.
Alter your weights to an area that's not around your lumbar area. Quick
release still applies!!
5. Try to arrange to be the first in the water
so that you won't have to stand with gear on a rocking boat.
6. Remove you gear in the water. Don't be
shy about approaching your divemaster or instructor about help with this!!
7. Avoid shore entries, jumping in from heights
or anything else that will act as gravity compression of your discs.
8. Practice 'pelvic thrust' during the dive.
(Pelvic thrust is an exercise - not an amorous activity!)
9. If you have a disc, carefully document
all your symptoms so that you will have a good baseline in case of possible
decompression accidents.
10. If you are postoperative back surgery,
do not dive without your doctor's OK. Wait 3 months before diving. (#9
above also applies here.)
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1. Missing Equipment
2. Improper equipment
3. Malfunctioning equipment
4. Improper dressing procedures
5. Disorganization
6. Carelessness
7. Disregard of Buddy System
8. Disregard of Diving tables
9. Inattention
10. Panic
8/15/06