Uncontrolled ascent

[scubadoc]

Just in case there are others in the UK who have had difficulty in getting immediate help in case of possible decompression symptoms, here is a web page that might be of benefit.
http://www.scuba-doc.com/divuk.htm

Methods for making an Emergency Call in the UK

Scottish Diving Hotline is now the Hospital switchboard at Forrester Hills Hospital, Aberdeen: +44(0)1224 681818, and ask for the Emergency Diving Physician and they will be transferred direct to the doctor on call for diving.
The English Diving Emergency Hotline is +44 (0)7831 151523 (24 hrs in emergency). That is the Royal Navy at Alverstoke, Gosport who will advise and pass to the nearest acute treatment unit if necessary.

At sea, call Coastguard on Channel 16.

In addition, recompression chambers are listed as well as the BS_AC referrees.

In addition, dive accident facilities are listed for other countries and US states at http://www.scuba-doc.com/listchmbr.htm .

These are kept up-to-date as much as possible.

 

[Aegir]

Good thinking Scubadoc, and thanyou..im sure that will help some people out.

To all UK divers:

"The British Hyperbaric Association" (BHA)

At sea call the coastguard Channel 16

On land
England, N Ireland, Wales, call
the Royal Navy Doctor 07831 151523 (24hrs)

Scotland
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary 01224 681818 (24hrs)

As scubadoc said..these are the numbers to call ...as you see they match up. Futhermore here is the advice as written on my "divers help card" written by the BHA:

"The treatment of acute decompression illness requires recompression treatment involving a patient to chambre matching criteria"

Decompression illness first aid:
-keep casualty supine (lying down)
-Give 100% 02 (by tight fitting mask)
-Give non alcoholic fluids ( aim for 1 litre)
-Keep the patient comfotably cool

Common Symptoms

Joint pain, Numbness altered sensation, Weakness, Tingeling in extremities, Loss of balance, Skin Rash, Visual disturbances, Nausea, Undue fatigue.

If you experience ANY of these symptoms after exiting the water (even upto 24 hours or more after diving) consider your options and seek immediate medical assistance via the above numbers (United Kingdom divers only).
Dive SAFE

 

[Aegir]

Let me add something....

After my initial first uncontrolled ascent on Friday ( see above posts) , although not from very deep water, i now remember feeling dizzy after exiting the water. So much so i had to grab a friend to stop me from falling. Obviously now i can see that it was due to DCI and not just some anomally like i initially thought. I also told 4 people about getting dizzy immediately after and no one raised an eyebrow. It just gos to show you that unless you really know the exact symptoms of docompression illness then you havnt much hope of actually realising when you get hit.

PS: I keep fit, mentally and physically...i dont smoke either. I dread to think what i would be like now had i been out of shape, obese, or/and a smoker.

Dive SAFE

 

[turnerjd]

Aegir....

In diver about a year ago it said that the navy has stopped the divers helpline and that the service had been transfered to the DDRC (when I read that I changed the number in the front of my logbook, so I will also probably have a date that it was changed if I bother to look) I assumed that as it was published in big letters that it was genuine (and no it wasn't the 1st april edition!)

If it isn't - appologies for the false phone number!

Jon T

 

[Aegir]

Good Point Jon but....

I have a new BHA divers card.

Furthermore i just phoned the Royal Navy Doctor myself on the same number as stated above who told me that it is a new number (in accordance with the new 07 mobile phone number changes).

07831 151523

You can rest assured that this number does infact work.

 

[Dr Deco]

Dear Readers:

Many thanks to all of you for your replies. I ws out of town for a meeting and a vaction in Nevada. As you might expect, Murphy's law will apply when your computer system is gone.

I trust that recovery will be full and complete.

Dr Deco

 

[budgy]

UK divers phone emergency services, ask for coastguard and state "diving emergency". The coastguard co-ordinate services and transport to the nearest available pot.

 

[Diver0001]

Hi Dr Deco

Recently i was involved in a rapid uncontrolled ascent from 17 metres because i had to grab my buddies fin to try to stop him from ascending too fast. Unfortuanately i just couldnt dump all my air in time so we ascended to the surface pretty quickly . Since that time i have had sensations like pins and needles allover my body. It is more like just the odd pinprick here and there but sometimes it is fairly intense in comparison to pins and needles. Will the micronuclei/bubbles work there way out of my system in time ? , if indeed i actually have any such bubbles in my body.

I am looking forward to your reply

(sorry if repeating, haven't read other responses yet)

Any kind of DCS needs to be taken seriously (as in "medical emergency" seriously). You may have type I. Go on a pot ride asap.

R..

 

[DandyDon]

I am really not qualified to comment here, except - I noticed this one comment:

" It was later found that my cuff dump on my dry suit was infact partly blocked with talc powder which made me unable to dump air quick enough on ascent."

At a DUI Drysuit introduction weekend last year, they used talc. This year they had switched to soapy water. Seems to work better, without the risk of clogging like you incured. Put the 10% liquid soap solution in a spray bottle of warm water, then keep the bottle in an insulator, as warm soapy water is nicer.

my 2 pence worth...

UK divers phone emergency services, ask for coastguard and state "diving emergency". The coastguard co-ordinate services and transport to the nearest available pot.

ALWYS A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP IN MIND! Even in The States, if at sea, keep this in mind! I'm sure the boat captain will think of it first, but - just in case.


don

 

[scubasean]

The guy is no longer experiencing DCS....The post originated 2.5 years ago.