Road Rash with Hydrocolloid Dressing: To Dive or Not to Dive

Hello,

I have a LOB to Socorro booked next week with the first dive day next Fri. Also planned to do a few pre-LOB land-based dives early next week . Then sadly, I crashed while cycling last Saturday. Got road rash on my elbow and bruises on my legs.

Now I have road rash covered in hydrocolloid dressing. It's been healing well, but I am not sure if it will be healed enough for next Monday's dive, which will be 9 days after the crash. I am hopeful that I will be ready for the LOB dives (13 days after the crash).

Any thoughts/wisdom to share? Anyone with experience diving in such situation? Hydrocolloid dressing is water proof. Can I keep it on when I dive?

Thanks!

Sue

 

Interested to hear what people say. My biggest concern is the LOB. If things go south there may not be an easy option to get treatment.

 

I am thinking you might want to discuss your situation with your doctor, and perhaps a wound care specialist. Their recommendation would likely be based on how deep and widespread the wounds, as well as your healing progress. If your road rash gets infected on a LOB you could be in a lot of trouble. Hopefully you opted to purchase trip insurance if you decide to cancel based on medical recommendations.

 

I would suggest seeing your physician and getting a script for treatment in case of infection. I might also skip the pre-LOB dives to give your wound more time to heal. Are you a drysuit diver? Using a drysuit would probably reduce some of your infection risk.

 

Thanks @driftwood and @Altamira . Just booked an appointment to see my doctor today.

The road rash is not big or deep (less than 1*2 inches with a couple of scratches across the area), but better have it checked before making any decisions.

 

Yes I will ask for a prescription when see my doctor today. Thanks @Hoyden

No, not a drysuit diver

 

This should be in Medical Forum. Get good advice there.

 

Thanks, but I can not find the Medical Forum. I am relatively new to scuba board.

 

As well as consulting a doctor you may want to consider a medical barrier film, often used now to cover new tattoos. Amazing stuff.

tattoo dressing film - Google Search

 

I think that's exactly what she's using. Tegaderm is a brand of Hydrocolloid dressing, according to google.

Here's a clicky link:
Diving Medicine