New
Rescue Divers often ask
about whether it is legal
to give a patient oxygen
in an emergency, and whether
it might cause medical
complications. These are
valid concerns, but within
the scope of diving, administering
oxygen in an emergency
isn't really an issue
in most areas, there are
no laws prohibiting buying
medical oxygen for emergency
use, or administering
oxygen in an emergency
Some areas stipulate that
the individual be trained
in oxygen administration
(PADI Rescue Diver and/or
other emergency oxygen
diver certifications quality
within the scope of dive
emergencies) As long as
the patient consents,
in most countries there's
nothing illegal about
providing oxygen in a
dive emergency (if the
patient is unconscious
content is implied).
Only a few countries prohibit
giving oxygen in an emergency.
It has been thought that
giving oxygen can
make a few medical conditions
worse, but theres some
doubt about this
now, Nonetheless,
these conditions
include emphysema and
other lung diseases that
impair individuals significantly.
People suffering from
these are not candidates
for diving. Healthy individuals
can suffer lung irritation
if they breathe
high oxygen concentration
to long, but this takes
hours - more than
likely youll have the
patient in professional
medical care, or run
out of emergency
oxygen first. Therefore,
according to DAN recommendations
and current emergency
care protocols,
you dot have to worry
about making someone
worse by administering
oxygen in a dive emergency
