First Aid Refresher
Emergency Oxygen

Emergency oxygen is the first line treatment for both decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE). It's so important that dive operators and professionals consider a working oxygen unit standard safety gear. Every diver should know how to administer emergency oxygen — do you? Assuming you've assessed the scene and completed the initial assessment of Basic Life Support, follow these simple steps:

• Turn the oxygen on slowly with one full turn.
• Check the pressure gauge on the tank to make sure the cylinder is full.
• Inform the injured diver that oxygen may help.
• State: "This is oxygen, and it may make you feel better. May I help you?"
• If the injured diver is unresponsive, permission to help is assumed.

• Continuously monitor the injured diver.
• If conscious, place the diver in a position of comfort.
• Provide noncaffeinated, noncarbonated and nonalcoholic fluids.
• Keep the injured diver out of the sun.

• If unconscious, put in recovery position or on back to provide care.

• Constant-flow setting should be in "Off" position.
• Take a breath from demand valve and exhale away from the mask.
• Place the mask over the injured diver's mouth and nose.
• Instruct the injured diver to breathe normally from the mask.
• Instruct the injured diver to hold the mask to help maintain a tight seal.
• Monitor the injured diver and the oxygen pressure gauge.

• Stretch oxygen tubing to avoid kinks.
• Attach oxygen tubing to barbed constant-flow outlet.
• Set constant-flow control to 15 liters per minute (lpm).
• Prime mask reservoir bag.
• Place the mask over the injured diver's mouth and nose.
• Adjust the mask to ensure the seal and prevent oxygen leakage.
• Instruct the injured diver to breathe normally.
• If reservoir bag deflates, increase flow rate to 25 lpm.

• Prepare the oronasal resuscitation mask.
• Remove oxygen tubing from the non-rebreather mask.
• Attach oxygen tubing to the barbed constant-flow outlet on the multifunction
regulator and the oxygen inlet on the oronasal resuscitation mask.

• Set constant-flow control to 15 liters per minute (lpm).
• Use mask to deliver supplemental oxygen during CPR.

Remember, a refresher does not take the place of actual training. If you are not trained in administering oxygen, consider taking the DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries course.

© Alert Diver — Winter 2010