Possible Hyperbaric Chamber Explosion in Florida

[tc]

Only have the news report for info so far, probably going to take a while for the investigation details to come out-

Woman, boy critical after explosion at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea hyperbaric-oxygen facility -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

 

[KY_BOB]

I saw that on the news while I was gone to lunch. They said something about a burn victim. It had to be more than just a chamber bursting.

 

[tc]

"Explosion" in a chamber normally translates (loosely) to a flash fire inside rather than a simple rupture of the pressure vessel.

Increased partial pressures of Oxygen combined with an ignition source is not a good thing.

 

[muddiver]

Correct, chambers do not explode and neither do SCUBA tanks.

Most likely it was a flash fire inside the chamber.

 

[300bar]

How do you get a flashfire in a closed chamber.
Someone smoking in the chamber.

 

[Lopaka]

How do you get a flashfire in a closed chamber.

Electrical glitch=spark+O2=bang.

What killed the astronauts inside their capsule back when.

 

[300bar]

Electrical glitch=spark.

Yep,that's an option.Didn't think about that one.
Just assumed that all electrical points would be WELL insulated.
They are as far as I've seen,but only saw the military chambers.

 

[Rick Inman]

I saw that on the news while I was gone to lunch. They said something about a burn victim. It had to be more than just a chamber bursting.

Burn victims are frequently treated in a hyperbaric chamber.

 

[tc]

We don't allow synthetic clothing in our chamber for this very reason- static electricity is the hyperbaric environment is not a good thing.

 

[mts0628]

Typical news: "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is most commonly used for diving injuries. " Um, not really. It should have read, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is most commonly known for treating diving injuries but more common conditions such as CO poisoning and problematic and non-healing wounds are seen and on a more frequent basis.

As I have only seen about 6 different chambers, none of them being monoplace, I would probably dispute that they are the most common, although the cost for a multiplace, they could be right. I used to have a directory of all US Chambers and it also specified the personnel capacities as well.

They also make the incident sound like an explosion followed by a chamber failure. Both are bad but the former is more likely. For a chamber to completely fail, well, let's just say everyone's day would be worse!

I do hope the best for the patients no matter what the injuries or cause(s).