What steps can divers take to prevent decompression sickness?
- Remaining well within your dive computer’s no-decompression limits.
- Computerize your Ascent.
- Make safety stops: End your dive with a safety stop of from three to five minutes at 3-6 m/10-20 ft.
- Avoiding Sawtooth Profiles: Limit the number of ups and downs during your dive.
- Avoid Exertion
- Stay Hydrated
- Stay Warm
- Don’t Fly After Diving: Wait 12 hours after single dives and at least 18 hours after repetitive dives, multiple days of diving or dives requiring decompression.
Where do the lungs remove carbon dioxide from the blood and replace it with oxygen?
The alveoli (air sacks) of the lungs.
What are the signs and symptoms of decompression sickness?
- Joint Pain
- A rash or crackling skin
- Confusion/unusual behavior
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty urinating
- Dizziness/vietigo
What causes decompression sickness?
It’s caused when nitrogen bubbles develop and become trapped in the body.
How is decompression sickness treated?
- Administer oxygen
- Activate the local emergency medical services system
- Contact the divers alert network
Treatment often involves recompression therapy in a hyperbaric chamber.
What is the cause of nitrogen narcosis?
Exposure to elevated partial pressures of nitrogen.
What procedures can be used to prevent or treat nitrogen narcosis?
- Limit depths to 20 m/66 ft or less.
- Ascend normally until you no longer feel the effects.
What is the primary cause of contaminated air?
Exhaust from a gas or diesel powered compressor gets accidentally sucked into the intake.
What is the correct response to detecting contaminated air underwater?
- Make controlled ascent to the surface.
How can you detect contaminated air?
- Feeling ill at depth
- Smelling the air
