Sterilizing regs for diver with CF

[oly5050user]

=Mantra;6560806]Thanks. So - I'm not sure what blac or cab are. They are kinds of antiseptic, I gather? I didn't have much luck Googling for them? Can you give me any other info please? Would you recommend soaking in a solution of this? If so, any suggestions on the strength of the mixture and how long to soak for? I guess I am kind of after specifics here because, as I said, I had trouble finding info.

Sorry meant to write mix of "diluted bleach can be used also"..mistyped.

[QOTE]The long answer - I find your tone here hard to read. As an instructor, hopefully you are aware that it is case-by-case as to people with CF diving. In her specific instance, she is fine to dive. Specifically, her CF is borderline, her symptoms are principally digestive with negligible pulmonary involvement (spirometry results well within 'normal' healthy range - FEV of 93% of predicted, for example). She has been cleared by her CF specialists, and DAN are happy to insure her based on her medicals, etc. I, of course, agree that people with CF should be prudent when it comes to diving and err on the side of caution - hence my enquiry here. She doesn't have lung infections or impairments, and I'd like to keep it that way through good diving habits including proper sanitation. Any helpful advice in that direction is sincerely appreciated.

I am just an old scuba instructor, not a medical professional. So for me as long as a medical doctor says its ok to dive without adding any type of limitations on the release, then it is ok with me..as you wrote later on

The 'real answer' to the 'real question' of "should someone with CF dive" is - it depends. I would not counsel ignoring expert medical advice.

People who go diving contrary to expert medical opinion are idiots. People who tell others they can't dive, expert medical opinion notwithstanding, are similarly afflicted.

As I wrote "if a medical release is supplied signed off by a Dr. with no limitations added to form, then it is ok enough for me."

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Virkon would be really useful here. I have a link to a paper with a review of the various products and Virkon won hands down with only TriGeneII anywhere close.

http://www.therebreathersite.nl/04_Links/Downloads/disinfectant.pdf

Steve,

Thank you for this link.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[emoreira]

There is a confussion here. The op talks about CF meaning Cystic Fibrosis, while in the document it is mentioned CF as Canadian Forces.

 

[flots am]

Nice paper. But I was just curious how you would go about cleaning an open circuit reg? Do you need to clean the 1st stage (surely you can't just take it apart and you definitely cannot flush it with the solution) or just the 2nd stage?

The first stage shouldn't have any biological contamination unless your tank is contaminated, in which case you have more problems than what to rinse your reg with.

flots.

 

[boulderjohn]

Home beer and wine makers use a number of different sanitizers to prevent bacterial infections in their products. Some of these are fast acting and require no rinsing. One of these is Star-San, which is what I use. Don't let the price fool you--it is actually extremely cheap. What you get in the bottle is extremely diluted when used. You could have a solution handy in a spray bottle and do the job easily in no time--no soaking required.

 

[Pao]

The first stage shouldn't have any biological contamination unless your tank is contaminated, in which case you have more problems than what to rinse your reg with.

flots.

Pseudomonas and family has a nasty habit of growing anywhere there is moisture. In the institution where I used to work for they even found it the open containers of antiseptic solutions (povidone). I was wondering If it can grow in the condensation accumulated in the 1st stage. Would a piston reg offer an advantage in this regard? What is the pore size used in the compressor filtration system?

 

[flots am]

Pseudomonas and family has a nasty habit of growing anywhere there is moisture. In the institution where I used to work for they even found it the open containers of antiseptic solutions (povidone). I was wondering If it can grow in the condensation accumulated in the 1st stage. Would a piston reg offer an advantage in this regard? What is the pore size used in the compressor filtration system?

Your tank should not contain moisture. If it does, you need a better fill station. The parts of the first stage that are in contact with breathing air should not be getting wet.

I have no idea what the "pore size" is on any particular compressor. Sorry.

All things considered, the air coming out of the tank should be cleaner than the air you breathe normally.

Terry

 

[steveharriss]

As above with the addition of 'dryer' as well. If there's moisture in your cylinder/first stage then you've got bigger problems than worrying about some bugs

 

[gert7to3]

How about using OTC hydrogen peroxide to disinfect your regs? It's cheap, better tasting and less reactive on other materials than bleach. You could consider using a wide mouth jar or sealed box to dunk the reg in. Another thought is to rubber band a plastic bag around the reg for a shaken-not-stirred disinfecting. I would keep the reg attached to a tank so it can be blown out after cleaning.

FTW, I always rinse my reg with the shower on a dive boat or with bottled water on shore dives. I never put my reg in a dunk tank. You never know what lurks in wet suits.

 

[DocVikingo]

What is the pore size used in the compressor filtration system?

Hi Pao,

The simpler answer is that the pore size on a standard scuba air compressor filter is larger than would be required to filter out bacteria.

Regards,

DocVikingo