Equipment It seems that not all hyperbaric chambers are created equally

[PBcatfish]

Boy, 5, Dies in Hyperbaric Chamber Explosion at Michigan Medical Facility

TROY, Mich.—A pressurized oxygen chamber exploded Friday, killing a 5-year-old patient and injuring his mother at a suburban Detroit medical facility. The hyperbaric chamber explosion occurred about 8 a.m. at the Oxford Center in Troy, north of Detroit. The child, from Royal Oak, Michigan, had...

www.ntd.com

 

[poseident]

That is horrifying. My deepest condolences to the family.

 

[DogDiver]

Monoplace chambers are pressurized with 100% oxygen and the patient gets his “air brakes” by using a face mask periodically per protocol. Monoplace chambers are used for medical treatments and not really suitable for treating DCS in divers.

Multiplace chambers are pressurized with air and patients wear a hood with 100% oxygen. Their air brakes are accomplished by removing the hood periodically. Long Navy IV treatments will have a chamber technician in the chamber with them breathing only air. These are appropriate for divers.

 

[USdiver1]

Does not appear to be diving related. Appropriate forum?

 

[PBcatfish]

Does not appear to be diving related. Appropriate forum?

Hyperbaric chambers are certainly diving related. The failure of one would seem to be of interest to those who may need to rely on one someday. If this type of chamber was the only one readily available when I happened to come up with DCS, I would certainly want to take advantage if it.

...and it seems to me that this incident may make it prudent to discuss the design parameters & safety standards of the chambers that are intended for use by divers.

...but opinions may vary

 

[Johnoly]

All the chamber's I've visited they used an electronic search detector wand as well as zero personal clothing/items due to static/spark risk. You also are wearing a grounding strap but it could be slipped by a youngster. But the hospital's quote is pretty clear...

The Oxford Center said in an email that a fire started inside the hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

 

[johndiver999]

God help the mother.

 

[NothingClever]

God help the mother.

Indeed.

How heartbreaking.

Praying she’ll someday be able to find some peace with such a horrendous loss.

 

[Waterwulf]

I may be mistaken but I don't think medical chambers are pressurized to the same high pressures as a divers type chamber. Also, the explosion on that chamber was because of the oxygen, not pressure. It was a Rapid Flame Front explosion, not a pressure burst.

 

[DogDiver]

I may be mistaken but I don't think medical chambers are pressurized to the same high pressures as a divers type chamber. Also, the explosion on that chamber was because of the oxygen, not pressure. It was a Rapid Flame Front explosion, not a pressure burst.

Mono place chambers can be pressurized to 60 feet but primarily they treat at 45 feet for medical treatments.