Daily Diving Dilemmas Dexterously Defeated (Part 3)
Even though, thanks to modern technology, humans can breathe underwater, there are still many problems associated with breathing underwater, usually as a result of human error or equipment malfunction. The most common effects of these errors are drowning
and poisoning.
Drowning, which is caused by inhaling anything except water, has a deadly effect if not treated in the right manner. A diver suffocates after the lungs fill up with water. Due to the inexistence of oxygen in the lungs, and consequently, the brain, victims
of drowning usually suffer cardiac arrest, although it can be recovered from with immediate medical attention. Secondary drowning can also take place, mere hours after a near drowning experience. Secondary drowning occurs when the lungs are damaged from water
during near drowning. The body then attempts to release the foreign substance, which usually results in the victim drowning in their own body fluids. Both these effects can be avoided by keeping re-breathers and oxygen tanks properly maintained and acquiring
proper training on how to use and wear them.
Oxygen toxicity can also occur when the air is too rich in oxygen. Usually, when a diver experiences oxygen toxicity, it is due to inhaling a high proportion of oxygen in the breathing gas, which is usually required during deeper dives. This can be avoided
by proper training of how to use a re-breather and on learning the oxygen proportions based on pressure or depth.
Hypoxia or anoxia can occur when the breathing gas has too little oxygen pressure. This can be caused by a misused or faulty re-breather, deep diving gasses such as heliox and trimix, and rust or not enough oxygen in the cylinder before the dive. Hypoxia
can cause nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and headaches, which are all highly dangerous while diving. Severe cases of hypoxia can result in coma, seizures, unconsciousness, and death. To prevent this, utilize the same precautions as those to prevent
drowning, in addition to not breathing deep diving gasses in shallow waters.
Anoxia occurs when the diver has no gas or air to breathe, whatsoever. This mainly occurs due to equipment failure and running out of air, as a result of poor diving training, being trapped, or getting lost. Anoxia results in drowning, and can be prevented
by keeping equipment in good condition and, above all, proper training.
If a diver has a faulty demand valve in their breathing apparatus, it will leak seawater and cause a reaction in the lungs known as salt water aspiration syndrome.
Aside from these problems, a diver can also be poisoned by a foreign substance such as carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented by taking proper precautions while filling air cylinders and proper maintenance of the compressors used to
fill the cylinder, since carbon monoxide poisoning results from a cylinder filled by a faulty compressor. It usually sucks in the engine’s own exhaust fumes, or oil, into the air compression cylinder, thus transferring carbon monoxide into the air cylinder.
This can also cause emphysema. Carbon dioxide poisoning can also be caused by improper maintenance or with the use of a re-breather and using a helmet of large volume, in which carbon dioxide can be trapped. To prevent this, proper training and maintenance
of the breathing apparatus is required, as well as a breathing apparatus that is smaller in volume. This condition most often occurs while using large “bubblehead” helmets.
In the next article, effects of pressure change will be discussed, as well as causes and prevention. All the effects can be prevented by keeping equipment in good, working condition. But the most important, and absolutely mandatory, rule before diving is
to get proper training. Experienced divers do not have problems with any of these effects, since they have had training, practice, and know their equipment. When learning to scuba dive, don’t rush into water. Always take it slowly and receive proper training,
because at 100 feet below water, in an environment where help is usually unreachable, training is the difference between life and death.
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