Options for Diving Accident Management in Remote Locations

William C. Phoel, Ph. D.

Undersea Research Foundation International, Inc.

35 Freeman Court

Toms River, New Jersey, USA 08753-2613

and 

J. Morgan Wells, Ph. D.

Undersea Research Foundation, Inc.

P. O. Box 696

North, Virginia, USA 23128

Four Basic Therapy Options

Recompression Chamber on Site

In-water Recompression Therapy

Oxygen Therapy during Transportation

Oxygen Therapy Without Recompression

RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER ONSITERepresentative Examples

Hydrogen Bomb Search, Mediterranean Sea 150’-165’ Surface Supplied Air

U. S. Navy 1966 Biological Research Studies, Gulf of Maine, USA

105’ – 120’ Open-Circuit Scuba NOAA/NMFS 1977

Archaeological Research, Mediterranean Sea 100’-200’ Open-Circuit Scuba

>40,000 DivesINA ~1960-1990s

Typical OSV Configuration for a 54” Chamber and ROV

NOAA42”

DoubleLock

ChamberIn

Cargo Van

Back End OfChamber Van

HP Compressor

Air and OxygenCylinders

Heat and Air Conditioning

Electrical Panels

42” Diameter Double Lock Chamber on a Fishing Boat

Transportation Chambers

Fabric Chambers Successfully Used For Recompression Therapy Onsite

Mostly One-occupant chambers

Metal ChambersSuccessfully Used For Recompression Therapy Onsite

Single-occupant Chambers and Dual-occupant Chambers

Older, Single Occupant “Coffin Chamber”

Drager Duocom Transportable Chamber Cut-away

Multi-place and Multi-lock Chambers

Major Considerations

Size and Weight

42 inch diameter double-lock recompression chamberLess than ~3000 lbs (~1315 kg)

Vortex

Tube

Cooling

Eclipse Oxygen

Generator

Required Equipment Extra To Research Diving Operations

Without RecompressionCapabilities

Recompression Chamber

Vortex Cooling Tube

Oxygen Generator

Semi-closed Rebreather Inside the chamber

Addition of Chamber and Associated Equipment Means

Increased Safetye. g. Onsite Diving Accident Management

Increased Efficiencye. g. Surface Decompression with Oxygen

Increased Safety plus Increased Efficiency Equals

Increased Cost Effectiveness