#Lung barotrauma how to#

This can reduce the chances of a lung injury. Should you find yourself making a rapid ascent, try to make a continuous “aaaaah” sound while exhaling. Uncontrolled or panicked assents frequently precede a pulmonary barotrauma. This is why the number one rule of scuba diving is to breathe continuously and never hold your breath! Serious medical conditions can occur as the result of pulmonary barotrauma including: mediastinal emphysema, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax and arterial gas embolism.

The lungs don’t feel pain like other parts of the body, so a barotrauma can occur with little warning. Compressed gas in the lungs expands as the diver ascends and can cause the lungs to rupture if not exhaled. Pulmonary barotrauma is a lung overexpansion injury that typically occurs when a diver fails to exhale properly, or holds their breath during ascent. Never force your descent and avoid using decongestants. After ruling out an infection, the doctor may recommend nasal steroid sprays, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, a hot compress or oral decongestants like pseudoephedrine.Īvoid ear barotrauma by equalizing early and often. If you or another diver experience any of the following symptoms, stop diving and seek medical care – ideally from an ear nose and throat specialist. Muffled hearing, hearing loss, ringing in the ear.

Ears feel “full” or like they have water in them.The most common issues reported via email and Divers Alert Network’s Emergency Hotline are ear and pulmonary barotrauma, decompression sickness and marine envenomation.

#Lung barotrauma how to#

Knowing how to recognize and appropriately respond to diving injuries may benefit you or someone you care about. Scuba diving accidents are rare, but they do happen.