Chamber is up & running again

[Ken Kurtis]

I just got off the phone with Karl Huggins and the Chamber is once again fully operational. They’ve brought in extra generators so everything is up to speed . . . with the exception of the telephone system. That will probably be down for another two to three weeks. So you cannot use the direct emergency number for the Chamber. (They also still do not have cell phone service.)

In case of an emergency, you will need to phone the L.A. County MAC (Medic Alert Center) at 323/869-0578, and then push 8. Tell them you have a hyperbaric emergency. They will then contact the hyperbaric physician on-duty and they will also alert the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard will contact the Chamber by radio and the Chamber will then use their satellite phone to contact the MAC or you directly to co-ordinate everything. (If you’re out on the water, you should be able to contact the Coast Guard &/or the Chamber directly by hailing on channel 16.)

Needless to say, this isn’t a license to go out and bend yourself. But it’s comforting to know that if something should go wrong, our emergency safety net is once again there to catch us as we fall.

 

[Mo2vation]

Thanks for keeping this information top of mind. Great stuff.

Thanks, Ken.

---
KK

 

[drbill]

Great news, Ken. Now I can go back to my usual style of diving knowing I can get there for treatment.

Seriously, glad Karl was able to get additional backup power. There are a number of folks there at Two Harbors and elsewhere in the interior without functioning utilities. I feel incredibly lucky that my power was only out for three hours and my gas for two days.

 

[TSandM]

Considering I'm going to be diving there in a few days, it's good to know!