Scuba Diving Injuries

What are the most common injuries and/or medical conditions that derive from it?

There are a variety of injuries associated with scuba diving. These injuries can include barotraumas, middle ear squeeze, bites and stings and more serious and life-threatening, decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism.

Barotrauma can be defined as trauma to the soft tissues of the body as caused by pressure. During a dive, the pressure differential must be equalized or the resulting expansion or contraction of trapped gas will cause tissue injury. Tissue injuries can include sinus squeeze, ear squeeze, reverse ear squeeze and tooth squeeze.

Squeeze' injuries can cause mild to severe pain and may damage the related soft tissue structures. These disorders are caused by eustachian tube dysfunction resulting from an upper respiratory tract infection or allergies.

Decompression sickness is the result of bubble formation in body tissue. Symptoms can range from joint pain to neurologic or pulmonary problems.

Arterial gas embolism occurs when bubbles enter the circulation and travel to the brain. Symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the skin, weakness, paralysis or loss of consciousness may occur.

Divers may also sustain bites, stings and contact irritations. These injuries can often be overcome with vinegar or warm water. More common injuries like abrasions, lacerations and fractures can also occur.

How can you prevent them?

All of these illnesses and their prevention will be discussed during your diver training. But some basic preventative action can be taken place before your dive. It is wise to :

• be well hydrated,
• have limited alcohol intake,
• avoid diving with blocked sinuses, and
• avoid ascending to a higher altitude soon after diving.