CH 17 Dive Manual Flashcards
(397 cards)
When should a patient be directed to the highest level of medical care?
When diagnosis or treatment are not clear
Contact the Diving Medical Officers at NEDU or NDSTC for guidance.
What types of diving does the recompression procedures apply to?
- surface-supplied
- open and closed circuit
- SCUBA diving
Also applicable to recompression chamber operations, whether breathing air, nitrogen-oxygen, helium-oxygen, or 100 percent oxygen.
What is the effectiveness rate of U.S. Navy recompression treatment procedures?
Over 90 percent effective in relieving symptoms
What procedures require special training and must not be attempted by untrained individuals?
Starting intravenous (IV) fluid lines and inserting chest tubes.
Can treatment tables be initiated without consulting a Dive Medical Officer?
Yes, but a DMO should always be contacted at the earliest possible opportunity.
What is the role of the Chamber Supervisor?
To oversee the recompression chamber team
In what situations is a recompression chamber team assembled?
When a recompression chamber is part of a diving operation or maintained as an area response requirement.
Who should accompany the patient with symptoms of serious DCS or AGE when treating the patient inside a chamber?
A Diving Medical Technician (DMT) or Diving Medical Officer (DMO) should accompany the patient inside the chamber
Basic Life Support (BLS) or advanced medical support may be required.
Who can provide specialized medical care to a patient in the chamber?
The best qualified person available, which may include a non-diving surgeon, respiratory therapist, or Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC)
No special medical or physical prerequisites exist for emergency exposures.
What is the role of the Diving Officer in recompression chamber operations?
Responsible for the safe conduct of operations and reporting to the Commanding Officer
This includes presenting the operational status and issues.
Fill in the blank: A qualified _______ is required inside the chamber at all times.
Inside Tender
This is essential for patient care during recompression treatments.
True or False: Inside tenders and additional personnel may be locked in and out during treatments.
True
Chamber periods should be kept within no-decompression limits if possible.
What is the total minimum manning level for emergency diving operations?
3
Supervisor / outside tender / inside tender
What are the primary objectives of recompression treatment?
- Compress gas bubbles to a small volume, thus relieving local pressure and restarting blood flow
- Allow sufficient time for bubble resorption
- Increase blood oxygen content and thus oxygen delivery to injured tissues
Table 17-1 provides further details on recompression treatments.
What should be done promptly and adequately in recompression treatment?
Treatment
The effectiveness of treatment decreases as the length of time between the onset of symptoms and the treatment increases.
True or False: Minor symptoms should be ignored in diving disorders.
False
Seemingly minor symptoms can quickly become major symptoms.
What should be followed unless changes are recommended by a Diving Medical Officer?
The selected treatment table
If multiple symptoms occur, treat for the most serious condition.
Which treatment tables are more effective for diving disorders?
Oxygen treatment tables
Air treatment tables should only be used after oxygen system failure or intolerable patient oxygen toxicity problems.
When should Air Treatment Tables be used?
Only as a last resort when oxygen is not available
What is the descent rate for all oxygen treatment tables?
20 feet per minute
Upon reaching a treatment depth, place the patient on oxygen/treatment gas
What is used for treatment depths deeper than 60 fsw?
Treatment gas if available
Treatment Table 4 should always be used with oxygen if it is available.
Fill in the blank: Use Treatment Table 3 for treatment of serious symptoms where oxygen cannot be used if symptoms are relieved at a depth greater than _____ feet.
66
Treatment Table 2A is used if pain is relieved at a depth greater than 66 feet.
What should be done if pain is relieved at a depth less than 66 feet?
Use Treatment Table 1A
This is part of the protocol when oxygen is not available.
What are the primary objectives of recompression treatment?
- Compress gas bubbles to a small volume, thus relieving local pressure and restarting blood flow
- Allow sufficient time for bubble resorption
- Increase blood oxygen content and thus oxygen delivery to injured tissues
Crush
Reabsorb
Increase PPO2