Diving hazards and precautions - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Divers face specific physical and health

Health

Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...

risk

Risk

Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity will lead to a loss . The notion implies that a choice having an influence on the outcome exists . Potential losses themselves may also be called "risks"...

s when they go underwater

Underwater

Underwater is a term describing the realm below the surface of water where the water exists in a natural feature such as an ocean, sea, lake, pond, or river. Three quarters of the planet Earth is covered by water...

(e.g. with scuba

Scuba set

A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving....

or other diving equipment

Diving equipment

Diving equipment is equipment used by underwater divers for the purpose of facilitating diving activities. This may be equipment primarily intended for this purpose, or equipment intended for other puprposes which is found to be suitable for diving use....

) or use high pressure breathing gas

Breathing gas

Breathing gas is a mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration.Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas...

es. Some of these conditions also affect people who work in raised pressure environments out of water, e.g. in caisson

Caisson (engineering)

In geotechnical engineering, a caisson is a retaining, watertight structure used, for example, to work on the foundations of a bridge pier, for the construction of a concrete dam, or for the repair of ships. These are constructed such that the water can be pumped out, keeping the working...

s.

According to a North American 1970 study, diving was (on a man-hours based criteria) 96 times more dangerous than driving an automobile.
According to a 2000 Japanese study, every hour of recreational diving is 36 to 62 times riskier than automobile driving.

Effects of relying on breathing equipment while underwater

Being unable to breathe fresh air naturally whilst submerged and relying on limited breathing gas supplies and fallible breathing equipment can have these effects. Click on the boldface links to find symptoms and more information for each topic.

Types of this sort of diving disorder, and how to avoid them
Type	Cause	How to avoid it
Drowning Drowning Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....	Being unable to inhale anything but water	See under "anoxia" hereinunder
Secondary drowning	Can occur hours after a near drowning	Prompt medical treatment after near drowning
Oxygen toxicity Oxygen toxicity Oxygen toxicity is a condition resulting from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen at elevated partial pressures. It is also known as oxygen toxicity syndrome, oxygen intoxication, and oxygen poisoning...	Breathing gas at too high a partial pressure Partial pressure In a mixture of ideal gases, each gas has a partial pressure which is the pressure which the gas would have if it alone occupied the volume. The total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas in the mixture.... of oxygen Oxygen Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition... ; partial pressure depends upon proportion of oxygen and depth	Proper training before using a rebreather Rebreather A rebreather is a type of breathing set that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycled exhaled gas. This recycling reduces the volume of breathing gas used, making a rebreather lighter and more compact than an open-circuit breathing set for the same duration in environments where... or oxygen Oxygen Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition... enriched gases such as nitrox.
Hypoxia Hypoxia (medical) Hypoxia, or hypoxiation, is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Variations in arterial oxygen concentrations can be part of the normal physiology, for example, during strenuous physical exercise... or anoxia Hypoxia (medical) Hypoxia, or hypoxiation, is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Variations in arterial oxygen concentrations can be part of the normal physiology, for example, during strenuous physical exercise... occurs while having gas to breathe, but where the oxygen partial pressure Partial pressure In a mixture of ideal gases, each gas has a partial pressure which is the pressure which the gas would have if it alone occupied the volume. The total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas in the mixture.... is too low to sustain normal activity or consciousness.	A faulty or misused rebreather Rebreather A rebreather is a type of breathing set that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycled exhaled gas. This recycling reduces the volume of breathing gas used, making a rebreather lighter and more compact than an open-circuit breathing set for the same duration in environments where... can provide the diver with hypoxic gas	Keep rebreathers properly maintained. Proper training before using a rebreather.
	Some deep diving breathing gas Breathing gas Breathing gas is a mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration.Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas... es such as trimix and heliox Heliox Heliox is a breathing gas composed of a mixture of helium and oxygen .Heliox has been used medically since the 1930s, and although the medical community adopted it initially to alleviate symptoms of upper airway obstruction, its range of medical uses has since expanded greatly, mostly because of... can be hypoxic at shallow depths	Don't breathe hypoxic gas in shallow water. Proper training before using mixed gases. Corerect identification of cylinder gases and safe procedures for gas changes.
	A full cylinder standing for a long time while the inside of the cylinder rust Rust Rust is a general term for a series of iron oxides. In colloquial usage, the term is applied to red oxides, formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of water or air moisture... s, using up oxygen in the contained air, before the diver uses the cylinder	Keep cylinders routinely checked and tested. If a cylinder has stood full for months, empty it and refill it.
Anoxia Hypoxia (medical) Hypoxia, or hypoxiation, is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Variations in arterial oxygen concentrations can be part of the normal physiology, for example, during strenuous physical exercise... due to having no air or gas to breathe	Equipment failure - particularly in rebreathers that monitor and maintain oxygen content	Keep equipment routinely checked and in good condition
	Running out of air due to a number of factors, including poor dive discipline	Better training of divers. More disciplined attitude when underwater.
	Running out of air due to getting trapped by nets	Better awareness underwater. Carry a diver's net cutter, or dive tool/knife Diving equipment Diving equipment is equipment used by underwater divers for the purpose of facilitating diving activities. This may be equipment primarily intended for this purpose, or equipment intended for other puprposes which is found to be suitable for diving use.... .
	Running out of air due to getting trapped or lost in enclosed spaces underwater (e.g. cave Cave A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study... s and shipwrecks)	Specific training and leadership for such types of diving. See cave diving Cave diving Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common... and wreck diving Wreck diving Wreck diving is a type of recreational diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites... .
	Running out of air due to getting lost in open water	Better training and leadership, including in using a compass Compass A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined... underwater
Salt water aspiration syndrome Salt water aspiration syndrome Salt water aspiration syndrome is a rare diving disorder suffered by SCUBA divers who inhale a mist of seawater from a faulty demand valve causing irritation of the lungs. It can be treated by rest for several hours...	Inhaling a mist of sea water from a faulty demand valve causing a reaction in the lung Human lung The human lungs are the organs of respiration in humans. Humans have two lungs, with the left being divided into two lobes and the right into three lobes. Together, the lungs contain approximately of airways and 300 to 500 million alveoli, having a total surface area of about in... s	Keep equipment routinely checked and in good condition
Carbon monoxide poisoning Carbon monoxide poisoning Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide . Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect...	Air cylinder filled by a compressor which sucked in products of combustion Combustion Combustion or burning is the sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical species. The release of heat can result in the production of light in the form of either glowing or a flame... , often its own engine's exhaust gas Exhaust gas Exhaust gas or flue gas is emitted as a result of the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, gasoline/petrol, diesel fuel, fuel oil or coal. According to the type of engine, it is discharged into the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe, flue gas stack or propelling nozzle.It often disperses...	Proper precautions when filling cylinders
	Oil getting into the air feed and firing in the air compression cylinder, like in a diesel engine Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...	Proper servicing of the compressor
Emphysema Emphysema Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary... caused by inhaling oil mist	This happens gradually over a long time. This is a particular risk with a pumped surface air feed.	Use proper filters in the air pump or air compressor.
Carbon dioxide poisoning: hypercapnia Hypercapnia Hypercapnia or hypercapnea , also known as hypercarbia, is a condition where there is too much carbon dioxide in the blood...	Re-inhaling carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom... -laden exhaled gas	Minimise the volume of any enclosed spaces which the diver breathes through. For example, this hazard can happen with diving with a large "bubblehead" helmet.
	With a rebreather Rebreather A rebreather is a type of breathing set that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycled exhaled gas. This recycling reduces the volume of breathing gas used, making a rebreather lighter and more compact than an open-circuit breathing set for the same duration in environments where... , the diver re-inhales carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom... because the soda lime Soda lime Soda lime is a mixture of chemicals, used in granular form in closed breathing environments, such as general anaesthesia, submarines, rebreathers and recompression chambers, to remove carbon dioxide from breathing gases to prevent CO2 retention and carbon dioxide poisoning.It is made by treating... scrubber cannot absorb the exhaled carbon dioxide as fast as the diver produces it. See Rebreather#Carbon dioxide scrubber.	British naval divers called it shallow water blackout Shallow water blackout A shallow water blackout is a loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a breath-hold dive in water typically shallower than five metres , when the swimmer does not necessarily experience an urgent need to breathe and has no other obvious medical condition that might have... . Keep rebreathers properly maintained. Proper training before using a rebreather.
Various effects of breathing a wrong gas	A wrong gas was put in a cylinder	Check conditions where you have your cylinders refilled. Put the proper gas identification markings on cylinders.

Effects of barotrauma or pressure damage

See barotrauma

Barotrauma

Barotrauma is physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure between an air space inside or beside the body and the surrounding fluid...

and pressure

Pressure

Pressure is the force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure.- Definition :...

for more information.

On descent

Air spaces within the body provide no support against greater outside pressure. This can happen from losing control of buoyancy

Buoyancy

In physics, buoyancy is a force exerted by a fluid that opposes an object's weight. In a column of fluid, pressure increases with depth as a result of the weight of the overlying fluid. Thus a column of fluid, or an object submerged in the fluid, experiences greater pressure at the bottom of the...

causing excessive vertical speed during descent. Click on the boldface links to find symptoms and more information for each topic.

Types of this sort of diving disorder, and how to avoid them
Type	Cause	How to avoid it
Eardrum Eardrum The eardrum, or tympanic membrane, is a thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear in humans and other tetrapods. Its function is to transmit sound from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear. The malleus bone bridges the gap between the eardrum and the other ossicles... damage. Cold water in the middle ear Middle ear The middle ear is the portion of the ear internal to the eardrum, and external to the oval window of the cochlea. The mammalian middle ear contains three ossicles, which couple vibration of the eardrum into waves in the fluid and membranes of the inner ear. The hollow space of the middle ear has... chills the inner ear Ear The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system.... , causing dizziness Dizziness Dizziness refers to an impairment in spatial perception and stability. The term is somewhat imprecise. It can be used to mean vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, or a non-specific feeling such as giddiness or foolishness.... and disorientation etc.	Failing to equalize the pressure in the middle ear Middle ear The middle ear is the portion of the ear internal to the eardrum, and external to the oval window of the cochlea. The mammalian middle ear contains three ossicles, which couple vibration of the eardrum into waves in the fluid and membranes of the inner ear. The hollow space of the middle ear has... with surrounding pressure.	Do not dive if the eustachian tube Eustachian tube The Eustachian tube is a tube that links the nasopharynx to the middle ear. It is a part of the middle ear. In adult humans the Eustachian tube is approximately 35 mm long. It is named after the sixteenth-century anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachi... is congested, e.g. with the common cold Common cold The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever... . Proper diver training in clearing the ears.
	The pressure in the outer ear Outer ear The outer ear is the external portion of the ear, which consists of the pinna, concha, and external auditory meatus. It gathers sound energy and focuses it on the eardrum . One consequence of the configuration of the external ear is to selectively boost the sound pressure 30- to 100-fold for... not equalizing with surrounding pressure	Make sure that your hood does not make an airtight seal over the outside ear hole; never wear earplugs.
Damage to other body air spaces, such as the paranasal sinus Paranasal sinus Paranasal sinuses are a group of four paired air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity , above and between the eyes , and behind the ethmoids... es.	Obstruction to the sinus ducts	Do not dive with conditions such as the common cold Common cold The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever...
Squeeze damage to blood vessels around the eyes	Caused by suction from the air space inside a mask ("mask squeeze") which is not a fullface mask	Let air into the mask through the nose. Do not dive with eyes-only goggles Goggles Goggles or safety glasses are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes. They are used in chemistry laboratories and in woodworking. They are often used in snow sports as well,... .
Squeeze damage to skin under folds in a drysuit	Suction into the space inside the fold	Modern drysuits have a tube connection to inflate the drysuit from the cylinder
Lung squeeze: blood in lungs	Extreme depth when snorkelling	Use an underwater breathing set Scuba set A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving....
Helmet squeeze, with the old standard diving dress Standard diving dress A standard diving dress consists of a metallic diving helmet, an airline or hose from a surface supplied diving air pump, a canvas diving suit, diving knife and boots... . This does not happen with scuba Scuba set A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving.... where there is no solid pressure-tight helmet	A non-return valve in the helmet failing, accompanied by a failure of the air compressor (on the surface) to pump enough air into the suit for the gas pressure inside the suit remaining equal to the outside pressure of the water. In severe cases much of the diver's body could be mangled and compacted inside the helmet, however, this requires substantial pressure difference caused by aforementioned failures in the air supply and the non-return valve (which was absent from the earliest models of this type of diving suit).	Keep equipment in good order and inspected. Proper training in its use.

On ascent

Air spaces within the body expand when the outside pressure decreases. This can happen from holding the breath on ascent, or from losing control of buoyancy

Buoyancy

causing excessive vertical speed during ascent. Click on the boldface links to find symptoms and more information for each topic.

Types of this sort of diving disorder, and how to avoid them
Type	Cause	How to avoid it
Pulmonary barotrauma: "burst lung"	Holding the breath while ascending	Never hold your breath while diving with breathing apparatus
This can cause:
Pneumothorax Pneumothorax Pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity of the chest between the lung and the chest wall. It may occur spontaneously in people without chronic lung conditions as well as in those with lung disease , and many pneumothoraces occur after physical trauma to the chest, blast...	Collapsed lung, air loose in the pleural cavity Pleural cavity In human anatomy, the pleural cavity is the potential space between the two pleura of the lungs. The pleura is a serous membrane which folds back onto itself to form a two-layered, membrane structure. The thin space between the two pleural layers is known as the pleural cavity; it normally...
Interstitial emphysema Emphysema Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...	Gas trapped in the chest after burst lung
Subcutaneous emphysema Emphysema Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...	Gas loose under the skin.
Gas embolism	Air or other gas in the blood stream. Its effects can be very similar to decompression sickness Decompression sickness Decompression sickness describes a condition arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body on depressurization... .
Pain in a sinus Paranasal sinus Paranasal sinuses are a group of four paired air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity , above and between the eyes , and behind the ethmoids...	Blockage of the sinus's duct	Do not dive with nasal congestion, e.g. the common cold Common cold The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever... .
Eardrum bursting outwards	Blocked Eustachian tube Eustachian tube The Eustachian tube is a tube that links the nasopharynx to the middle ear. It is a part of the middle ear. In adult humans the Eustachian tube is approximately 35 mm long. It is named after the sixteenth-century anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachi...

Effects of breathing gas at high pressure

Click on the boldface links to find symptoms and more information for each topic.

Types of this sort of diving disorder, and how to avoid them
Type	Cause	How to avoid it
Decompression sickness Decompression sickness Decompression sickness describes a condition arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body on depressurization... ("the bends")	Gas dissolves in tissues under pressure according to Henry's Law Henry's law In physics, Henry's law is one of the gas laws formulated by William Henry in 1803. It states that:An equivalent way of stating the law is that the solubility of a gas in a liquid at a particular temperature is proportional to the pressure of that gas above the liquid... over time. After dive, ascending too quickly will cause gas to supersaturate and form bubbles in tissue Biological tissue Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning... s depending on time and depth of the dive.	Plan your dive. Know how long you can stay at the planned depth and still make a normal ascent. If stops are necessary, do not miss or cut short decompression stops. Training in using diving tables and a dive computer Dive computer A dive computer or decompression meter is a device used by a scuba diver to measure the time and depth of a dive so that a safe ascent profile can be calculated and displayed so that the diver can avoid decompression sickness.- Purpose :... . See decompression sickness Decompression sickness Decompression sickness describes a condition arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body on depressurization... for a detailed list of the symptoms. Use breathing gas mixtures with reduced inert gas fraction, eg Nitrox. Provide something for the diver to hold onto while ascending and decompressing to maintain accurate depth during stops and correct ascent rate. Avoid dehydration and hypothermia. Maintain cardiovascular fitness.
Bends in snorkellers. Uncommon but known.	Many deep dives in succession. See taravana Taravana Taravana is a disease often found among Polynesian island natives who habitually dive deep without breathing apparatus many times in close succession, usually for food or pearls. These free-divers may make 40 to 60 dives a day, each of 30 or 40 metres .Taravana seems to be decompression sickness.... .	Reduce the number of deep dives, increase surface interval or reduce dive depth. Use an underwater breathing apparatus Scuba set A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving.... and ascend at a rate determined by decompression tables or computer.
Nitrogen narcosis Nitrogen narcosis Narcosis while diving , is a reversible alteration in consciousness that occurs while scuba diving at depth. The Greek word ναρκωσις is derived from narke, "temporary decline or loss of senses and movement, numbness", a term used by Homer and Hippocrates...	Breathing a high partial pressure Partial pressure In a mixture of ideal gases, each gas has a partial pressure which is the pressure which the gas would have if it alone occupied the volume. The total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas in the mixture.... of nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere... (or other gas, to varying degrees)	Dont dive deep on air. Limit the depth of the dive to limit the partial pressures of gases with narcotic effects to a level that you can safely manage. With mixed gas diving, use the correct breathing gas mixture to limit the equivalent narcotic depth to an acceptable level for the planned depth.
Oxygen toxicity Oxygen toxicity Oxygen toxicity is a condition resulting from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen at elevated partial pressures. It is also known as oxygen toxicity syndrome, oxygen intoxication, and oxygen poisoning...	Breathing a high partial pressure Partial pressure In a mixture of ideal gases, each gas has a partial pressure which is the pressure which the gas would have if it alone occupied the volume. The total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas in the mixture.... of oxygen Oxygen Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...	This hazard is well known with closed circuit rebreather Rebreather A rebreather is a type of breathing set that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycled exhaled gas. This recycling reduces the volume of breathing gas used, making a rebreather lighter and more compact than an open-circuit breathing set for the same duration in environments where... s when the control of the mixture fails. This can also happen when diving with open-circuit scuba and semi-closed circuit rebreathers if the maximum operating depth for the breathing gas is exceeded.
HPNS: High Pressure Nervous Syndrome or Helium Tremors	Breathing a high partial pressure Partial pressure In a mixture of ideal gases, each gas has a partial pressure which is the pressure which the gas would have if it alone occupied the volume. The total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas in the mixture.... of helium Helium Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...	Use another diving technique, such as an ROV; or add a little nitrogen as described at HPNS.

The term dysbarism

Dysbarism

Dysbarism refers to medical conditions resulting from changes in ambient pressure. Various activities are associated with pressure changes. Scuba diving is the most frequently cited example, but pressure changes also affect people who work in other pressurized environments , and people who move...

describes Decompression sickness

Decompression sickness

Decompression sickness describes a condition arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body on depressurization...

, arterial gas embolism, and barotrauma