"What to do when a dive goes wrong!"

Dr. Ron Linden, MD CCFP, diving and hyperbaric med specialist at Toronto General Hyperbaric dept. gave the above presentation which included some key info. for Ontario divers at a Nov 2 meeting.

He mentioned he will try and put the presentation on-line. I believe he called this his eight things to remember. I have paraphrased below but if you don't read further, get out your cell phone & divelog and write down 800-668-4357. This is the number you should call in Ontario AFTER 911 to get EMS on the way. It is a 24/7 service in Ontario and I got the impression it addresses dive emergencies.

Here is his eight things to remember:

1) Give 100% 02
2) Do not leave the injuried diver till they are in the Chamber
3) Have a functional phone and call EMS 911 and state
"Have an injured diver that needs a hyperbaric chamber"
4) Call Criti-Care 800-668-4357 if in Ontario and state "Have an injured diver that needs a hyperbaric chamber".
5) In E.R. inform Medical staff : "Have an injured diver that needs a hyperbaric chamber" {Notice a pattern here?}
6) BE ASSERTIVE {Pattern becoming clearer?}
7) If necessary, call nearest chamber and speak to MD on call.
8) If the advice doesn't make sense, call another hyperbaric chamber or DAN.

He supported the above statements with numerous examples of dive emergencies gone bad due to communication and transportation problems.

Also mentioned that of the 250 Hyperbaric chambers in NA, only 100 treat DCI, 8 in Canada, 4 in Ontario.
Chamber Phone Numbers (only call with an emergency!):

Tobermory 519-319-2305
TGH 416-340-4131
Hamilton 905-577-8700
Ottawa 613-737-8966

Excellent speaker, entertaining & informative.

all that info! If the presentation does get "on line" please let us know.

Good numbers to tuck into the dive log book.