At what depth is decompression required?

At what depth is decompression required?

At depths greater than 40 metres (130 ft), a diver may have only a few minutes at the deepest part of the dive before decompression stops are needed. In the event of an emergency, the diver cannot make an immediate ascent to the surface without risking decompression sickness.

Is the bends the same as decompression sickness?

The bends, also known as decompression sickness (DCS) or Caisson disease, occurs in scuba divers or high altitude or aerospace events when dissolved gases (mainly nitrogen) come out of solution in bubbles and can affect just about any body area including joints, lung, heart, skin and brain.

Can you get the bends from flying?

The longer the duration of the exposure to altitudes of 18,000 ft. and above, the greater the risk of altitude DCS. There are some reports indicating a higher risk of altitude DCS with increasing age. There is some indication that recent joint or limb injuries may predispose individuals to developing “the bends.”

Can you explode in a decompression chamber?

Explosive decompression (ED) is violent and too fast for air to escape safely from the lungs and other air-filled cavities in the body such as the sinuses and eustachian tubes, typically resulting in severe to fatal barotrauma.

Do submarines have decompression chambers?

The NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) is a submarine rescue system which has the capability of transferring submariners from a submarine, via a submarine rescue vehicle (SRV) to a deck hyperbaric chamber without alteration in ambient pressure.

How much do North Sea divers earn?

Generally speaking, saturation divers can make up to $30,000 – $45,000 per month. Annually, this can add up to over $180,000. A unique salary addition for saturation divers is “depth pay,” which can pay out an additional $1- $4 per foot.

What is decompression sickness (the bends)?

It’s easy enough to get down, but surfacing carelessly can lead to a host of problems resulting from decompression sickness, or “the bends.” This is true for human divers and marine organisms alike. In humans, decompression sickness has been known since the middle of the nineteenth century.

What is the meaning of “the bends?

The Bends is the slang term used for decompression sickness. It was coined because one of the effects of getting decompression sickness is joint pain which can cause the sufferer to bend up in pain.

Is decompression sickness the same thing as joint pain?

You are more likely to hear divers referring to ‘getting bent’ than you are likely to hear, ‘having decompression sickness’ but they mean the same thing. Don’t let the name fool you though; joint pain is just one of many manifestations of this condition.

What is the history of decompression sickness?

In humans, decompression sickness has been known since the middle of the nineteenth century. As described by researchers Richard H. Strauss and David E. Yount in American Scientist, workers toiling in mines and caissons (underwater spaces built for sinking bridge foundations) experienced severe aches in…