Ari
Moderator
I had a very interesting experience this morning. A visit to the Hyperbaric Chamber in Haifa (Israel) including a lecture from Dr. Yehuda Melamed, former chief MD for the Israeli Navy and an expert on decompression.
Dr. Melamed took us through a 2 hour lecture on N2 narcosis, followed by a dry dive in the decompression chamber, down to 50 msw (165 fsw), for a bottom time of 15 minutes. we were taken up with 3 safety stops at 9,6 and 3 msw, while being on 100% O2 from 6 msw and up. What an experience.
Down at 50 msw we were given a math problem, multiplying 2 four figure numbers. When we came up, dr. Melamed was surprised to see that most of us got the answers right.
The interesting thing was that we got the chance to really feel N2 narcosis in a controled environment. Hopefully it will help if I have to meet it in a real life situation.
Following the dive we had another two hours talking about DCS, including going through the mechanism of DCS, some very interesting case studies from Israel and worldwide and pictures of DCS damaged tissues, in the brain, spine and elsewhere.
Dr. Melamed went ahead to offer some initial methods of treatment, until the DCS victim gets to the Hospital and especially stressed for the use of 100% O2 in atmospheric pressure, were available.
All and all, I must recomend this day to all divers, at any level, but especially DMs, tech divers and above. I really think that understanding the signs and mechanisms of both N2 narcosis and DCS can surely save lives.
If you have the chance and find a class that deals with these issues, take it.
Ari
Dr. Melamed took us through a 2 hour lecture on N2 narcosis, followed by a dry dive in the decompression chamber, down to 50 msw (165 fsw), for a bottom time of 15 minutes. we were taken up with 3 safety stops at 9,6 and 3 msw, while being on 100% O2 from 6 msw and up. What an experience.
Down at 50 msw we were given a math problem, multiplying 2 four figure numbers. When we came up, dr. Melamed was surprised to see that most of us got the answers right.
The interesting thing was that we got the chance to really feel N2 narcosis in a controled environment. Hopefully it will help if I have to meet it in a real life situation.
Following the dive we had another two hours talking about DCS, including going through the mechanism of DCS, some very interesting case studies from Israel and worldwide and pictures of DCS damaged tissues, in the brain, spine and elsewhere.
Dr. Melamed went ahead to offer some initial methods of treatment, until the DCS victim gets to the Hospital and especially stressed for the use of 100% O2 in atmospheric pressure, were available.
All and all, I must recomend this day to all divers, at any level, but especially DMs, tech divers and above. I really think that understanding the signs and mechanisms of both N2 narcosis and DCS can surely save lives.
If you have the chance and find a class that deals with these issues, take it.
Ari
