411 Dive Log Australasia April 2025

evenings or on weekends. Some chamber facilities choose not to staff their unit after hours. Others simply do not treat divers. Hospital Capabilities Unlike most freestanding hyperbaric facilities, hospital settings have advanced diagnostic capabilities. A multidisciplinary setting ensures proper diagnosis and a stable patient before recompression therapy. Hospitals and urgent-care facilities have a virtually unlimited supply of oxygen, intravenous fluids and medications. Transportation A critically ill patient needs to be stabilised before and during transport to a chamber and should be transferred under medical supervision. Transporting a diver without a proper evaluation may adversely affect the diver’s health treatment outcome. When in Doubt, Call DAN DAN maintains a database of hyperbaric facilities willing to and capable of treating divers. It is challenging to ensure this database is current, as most chambers do not routinely report their status to DAN. Once you have begun administering first aid and activated local emergency medical services (EMS), DAN can help you and EMS determine the best course of action for the case as reported. If the need for recompression therapy seems obvious, DAN can confirm chamber availability with the closest facility. The nearest medical facility will not necessarily have hyperbaric medicine but is still the preferred option. Once the diver becomes a patient, transportation will move quickly and efficiently. DAN Emergency Hotline: 1800 088 200 (Within Australia) or +1-919-684-9111 (International) World.DAN.org

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DIVE LOG Australasia #411- April‘25