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Surely every diver has heard this admonition repeatedly. But, seems that it hasn't sunk in with a goodly number.
I've been pouring over DAN's '03 "Report on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive Exploration" for the past couple of weeks and find it very informative, and at times distressing.
For example, the figures for delay to recompression by diagnosis are (in hours):
DCSI: Median=26; Mean=55; Range=1-277
DCSII: Median=17; Mean=40; Range=1-648
AGE: Median= 6; Mean=14; Range=1-52
Mean=arithmetic average
Median=the score at the middle of the sequence of values. Fifty percent of the values will fall below the median score and 50% above.
Given it is well documented that, on balance, the earlier recompression starts the better are going to be the results, these median values are disturbing. And, the fact that the means are so much larger than the medians indicates that some divers are waiting ludicrous periods before getting chamber treatment, e.g., nearly a month in one case of DCSII.
I'll grant that in the DCSI category there sometimes can be uncertainty about whether the diver has sustained a hit or not, although this really is not a good excuse for delay as when in any doubt one should get evaluated at a recompression facility.
I see no reason, however, for an median duration of 17 hours/average duration of 40 hours between the appearance of the first signs/symptoms of DCSII and eventual recompression. When you've sustained DCSII, you've got at least one neurological and/or cardiopulmonary sign/symptom. You know with near certainty that something is wrong. To me, this suggests a lot of denial.
DCI isn't an embarrassment--it's a medical condition warranting rapid attention. Do the right thing, please.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
I've been pouring over DAN's '03 "Report on Decompression Illness, Diving Fatalities and Project Dive Exploration" for the past couple of weeks and find it very informative, and at times distressing.
For example, the figures for delay to recompression by diagnosis are (in hours):
DCSI: Median=26; Mean=55; Range=1-277
DCSII: Median=17; Mean=40; Range=1-648
AGE: Median= 6; Mean=14; Range=1-52
Mean=arithmetic average
Median=the score at the middle of the sequence of values. Fifty percent of the values will fall below the median score and 50% above.
Given it is well documented that, on balance, the earlier recompression starts the better are going to be the results, these median values are disturbing. And, the fact that the means are so much larger than the medians indicates that some divers are waiting ludicrous periods before getting chamber treatment, e.g., nearly a month in one case of DCSII.
I'll grant that in the DCSI category there sometimes can be uncertainty about whether the diver has sustained a hit or not, although this really is not a good excuse for delay as when in any doubt one should get evaluated at a recompression facility.
I see no reason, however, for an median duration of 17 hours/average duration of 40 hours between the appearance of the first signs/symptoms of DCSII and eventual recompression. When you've sustained DCSII, you've got at least one neurological and/or cardiopulmonary sign/symptom. You know with near certainty that something is wrong. To me, this suggests a lot of denial.
DCI isn't an embarrassment--it's a medical condition warranting rapid attention. Do the right thing, please.
Best regards.
DocVikingo