21-22 Change A
U.S. Navy Diving Manual—Volume 5
NOTE
Steroids or other drugs can be used only upon the prescription by and
under supervision of a Diving Medical Officer.
21-5.5.8
Sleeping and Eating. The only time the patient should be kept awake during
recompression treatments is during oxygen breathing periods at depths greater
than 30 feet. Travel between decompression stops on Treatment Tables 4, 7, and 8
is not a contra-indication to sleeping. While asleep, vital signs (pulse, respiratory
rate, blood pressure) should be monitored as the patient’s condition dictates. Any
significant change would be reason to arouse the patient and ascertain the cause.
Food may be taken by chamber occupants at any time. Adequate fluid intake
should be maintained as discussed in paragraph 21-5.5.7.
21-5.6
Recompression Chamber Life-Support Considerations. The short treatment ta-
bles (Oxygen Treatment Tables 5, 6, 6A; Air Treatment Tables 1A and 2A) can be
accomplished easily without significant strain on either the recompression
chamber facility or support crew. The long treatment tables (Tables 3, 4, 7, and 8)
will require long periods of decompression and may tax both personnel and hard-
ware severely.
21-5.6.1
Minimum Manning Requirements. The minimum team for conducting any re-
compression operation shall consist of three individuals. In case of emergency, the
recompression chamber can be manned with two individuals.
1.
The Diving Supervisor is in complete charge at the scene of the operation,
keeping individual and overall times on the operation, logging progress, and
communicating with personnel inside the chamber.
2.
The Outside Tender is responsible for the operation of gas supplies, ventila-
tion, pressurization, and exhaust of the chamber.
3.
The Inside Tender is familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of diving-
related sicknesses.
21-5.6.2
Optimum Manning Requirements. The optimum team for conducting recompres-
sion operations consists of four individuals:
1.
The Diving Supervisor is in complete charge at the scene of the operation.
2.
The Outside Tender #1 is responsible for the operation of the gas supplies,
ventilation, pressurization, and exhaust of the chamber.
3.
The Outside Tender #2 is responsible for keeping individuals’ and overall
times on the operation, logging progress as directed by the Diving Supervisor,
and communicating with personnel inside the chamber.
4.
The Inside Tender is familiar with the diagnosis and treatment of diving-
related sicknesses.
