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During the last days the planet has been dismayed by the news of a missing commercial submarine with five people who were going to visit the remains of the Titanic.
Regarding this, it is key to know that every time diving operations are carried out, there must always be a plan for possible emergency situations.
But at the health level, people who do diving or scuba diving could suffer from decompression sickness (DCS) or pulmonary overinflation syndrome (POIS),
According to the National Library of the United States (NIH, for its acronym in English), DCS is a condition in which gas bubbles formed during diving do not have adequate time to reabsorb or “outgas”, resulting in in an entrapment in specific regions of the body.
As for the POIS, it arises when a too fast ascent to the surface is made, resulting in the rupture of the alveoli and the subsequent extravasation of air bubbles in the tissue planes or even in the cerebral circulation.
diving risks
Divers should always know the time and depth of the dive, and be trained in managing decompression. A slow, controlled ascent plus proper buoyancy control can reduce the dangerous consequences of pulmonary barotrauma. The incidence of adverse effects can be decreased with safe practices.
Divers must understand their limitations and how to prevent adverse outcomes. DCS is a condition in which gas bubbles that form during diving do not have adequate time to be reabsorbed or “outgassed”.
This results in the bubbles becoming trapped in specific regions of the body, most commonly joints such as the shoulder. If the proper decompression time is missed, trapped bubbles can cause an EDC.
On rare occasions, the bubbles can cross the cerebral circulation, causing a potentially fatal condition. Divers should always know the time and depth of the dive, and be trained in managing decompression.
A slow, controlled ascent plus proper buoyancy control can reduce the dangerous consequences of pulmonary barotrauma. In general, the incidence of adverse effects can be reduced with safe practices, which allows you to fully enjoy this adventure water sport.
Keep reading:
• The complex operation to rescue the missing submersible with 5 people who were going to visit the remains of the Titanic
• “There is no escape capsule”: what it is like to travel aboard the Titan submarine that got lost on the way to the Titanic
• What is known about the 5 people who travel in the missing submersible that was heading to the legendary ship Titanic