There are two mechanisms of DCI:
1) Decompression Sickness
2) Arterial Gas Embolism
There are two types of Decompression Illness:
1) Type I
2) Type II
Type I:
1) Skin capillaries fill with the nitrogen bubbles, resulting in a red rash.
2) Musculosketal: Joint and limb pain
Type II:
1) Neurological decompression sickness: Tingling, numbness, respiratory problems and unconsciousness.
2) Pulmonary: Bubbles interrupt blood flow to the lungs, causing respiratory distress or arrest.
3) Cerebral: Bubbles travel to arterial blood stream and enter the brain, causing arterial gas embolism and symptoms of blurred vision, headache, confusion, unconsciousness.
Extreme fatigue, joint and limb pain, tingling, numbness, red rash, respiratory and cardiac issues, dizziness, blurred vision, headache, pain with swallowing, confusion, loss of consciousness, ringing in ears, vertigo, nausea, AMS (altered mental status), pain squeeze, SOB (shortness of breath), chest pain, hoarseness, neck fullness, cough.
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After majoring in communications and enjoying a successful career as a travel agent, Dianna Torscher Benson left the travel industry to write novels and earn her EMS degree. An EMT and Haz-Mat Operative in Wake County, NC, Dianna loves the adrenaline rush of responding to medical emergencies and helping people in need, often in their darkest time in life. Her suspense novels about characters who are ordinary people thrown into tremendous circumstances, provide readers with a similar kind of rush. Married to her best friend, Leo, she met her husband when they walked down the aisle as a bridesmaid and groomsmen at a wedding when she was eleven and he was thirteen. They live in North Carolina with their three children. Visit her website at http://www.diannatbenson.com
Thanks, Dianna. This is a timely post for me, as I'm about to take a refresher course. Years ago, I went as far as being certified as a rescue diver, but I've not been underwater in a long time.
ReplyDeleteHi Ramona,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post.
Have fun in your refresher course. I’m sure you’ll feel like little time has past since you last wore a cylinder and BCD. If you’ve never been to Cayman, try to get down there at some point. I think all the wreck, wall and reef dives there are just as incredible as diving in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
All my best,
Dianna