Aspirin

[texdiveguy]

All divers should consider carrying a few 325mg. asprins,,,,,in the event they are dealing with a possible heart attack diver they can have the diver chew 1 asprin followed by some water......this goes along way to helping blood clots from forming and gives the diver a bit more time to get medical treatment from EMS and hospital staff. I go as far as carry several in a small waterproof pill bottle attached to my BCD via a small carabineer...this way I can even provide the diver the opp. to take the asprin sooner (sooner the better). Dan reports that many of the dive fatalities reported are contributed to heart attacks and cardiac arrest.

 

[DandyDon]

I carry mine in my dive bag. If a diver has an attack, I want to get him out of the water and on the boat first and foremost.

But I'll be interested in following comments from others?

 

[sharkbaitDAN]

Are there any effects on bubble formation if giving aspirin to someone who just came up from a dive? Anyone know?

 

[orangeBloke]

On my first aid course we were told that you put the aisprin under the tongue as it'll absorb quicker and you odn't have to put anything down the person's throat

 

[SCUBAMedicBill]

Actually for cardiac patients that are having chest pain, we give them 2 chewable baby aspirin, 81mgs each. These will allow the patient to chew and swallow the pill, allowing the aspirin to be absorbed faster. You should not give them water or anything by mouth because heart attack victims frequently get nauseous and may vomit. This just puts mor in the stomach to vomit, and it they aspirate it (breath it into their lungs), this puts their breathing at risk. Also, aspirin is not usually given sublingually (under the tongue) as Nitroglycerin is. The suggested manner is by mouth. If the patient is not conscious enough to chew and shallow, then nothing should be placed in his mouth.

But, aspirin should only come after oxygen, if it is available. By increasing the amount of oxygen to the heart, this may prevent damage, as well as prevent problems with the cardiac electrical rhythms. Texdiveguy, good job on brining this up for everyone.

As far as sharkbaitdan, I don't believe that there should be any problem with bubble formation after aspirin.

Bill

 

[Bretagne]

Are there any effects on bubble formation if giving aspirin to someone who just came up from a dive? Anyone know?

There has been recomendations here to give immediately aspirin to divers with potential DCS to fluidify the blood and help the off gassing. But there are too many potential problems with aspirin (allergies, haemorragy...) and I think this recomendation will soon be forgotten. Nevertheless, they do not recommand tabs but powder that you mix with water. (and of course, drink more water).

 

[underwater daphne]

Are there any effects on bubble formation if giving aspirin to someone who just came up from a dive? Anyone know?

shouldn't be any problem. a dive doctor recently said i could take up to a gram of aspirin and go diving.

 

[DandyDon]

shouldn't be any problem. a dive doctor recently said i could take up to a gram of aspirin and go diving.

A whole gram? Interesting.

I take a couple every morning I'm diving:
1-To help lower the risk of my own attack or stroke;
2-To make my 57 year old knees feel better in the water; and
3-While there has been debate, since it does make the blood flow better, it's gotta' be a DCS deterrent, as N2 bubbles cause blockages.

Adding baby aspirin to my bag might be good? Powder and water could be more than I can mess with. Put it in the DAN 02 kit?

 

[jerrynuss]

A whole gram? Interesting.

I take a couple every morning I'm diving:
1-To help lower the risk of my own attack or stroke;
2-To make my 57 year old knees feel better in the water; and
3-While there has been debate, since it does make the blood flow better, it's gotta' be a DCS deterrent, as N2 bubbles cause blockages.

Adding baby aspirin to my bag might be good? Powder and water could be more than I can mess with. Put it in the DAN 02 kit?

One gram a day is not that much since a normal aspirin is 325 mg. One gram is 3 aspirin a day.

The low dose or baby aspirin are 81 mg, it would take 12 of them to equal one gram.

ASA is ototoxic so any hearing disturbance or tinnitis is indicative of over dose. Also GI upset can be a problem so take it with food.

ASA is an anticoagulant so it doesn't thin blood like some people assume. It stops platelets from adhering. ASA is a NSAID and it inhibits prostaglandin synthesis. Prostaglandins are a fatty acid that is released at the site of injury or irritation. The prostaglandins cause reddness due to vasodialation (getting more blood to the site of injury), Edema due to increased capillary permeability,
Heat due to vasodialation, pain due to increased sensitivity, mayb loss of function due to pain.

For DCS the theory is to stop all this happening at the site of bubble formation so the swelling and increase of fluid and clotting doesn't keep adding to the problem of the gas bubble.

 

[outlawaggie]

On my first aid course we were told that you put the aisprin under the tongue as it'll absorb quicker and you odn't have to put anything down the person's throat

crush the asprin first. It is absorbed even quicker.

3-While there has been debate, since it does make the blood flow better, it's gotta' be a DCS deterrent, as N2 bubbles cause blockages.

Adding baby aspirin to my bag might be good? Powder and water could be more than I can mess with. Put it in the DAN 02 kit?

I take one every day. However my doctor advised me to make sure the people you are with know you take asprin and the dose (325mg or 81 mg) as it is important to let med staff know in the event of an emergency. ie severe cut.