The following is an introduction to hyperbaric medicine. Much of the content in this presentation will be addressed as well during the DAN Chamber Attendant and Chamber Operator class. This presentation is simply designed to give you a better understanding of the principles of diving medicine. There are sections on basic physics relating to chambers, fire safety, chamber operations, gas contamination, cleaning solutions and the body systems involved in a dive injury.
Your Instructor
Francois Burman, PrEng, MSc is the Vice President of Safety Services at DAN. He is responsible for all of DAN’s safety and accident-prevention initiatives as well as the recompression chamber network. He has travelled around the world to conduct safety assessments at facilities used to treat injured divers and has written two books: The Risk Assessment Guide for Dive Operators and Professionals, and The Risk Assessment Guide for Recompression Facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the objectives of the Chamber Attendant course?
The chamber attendant’s module/learning opportunity was specifically developed to address the need in industry to have competent attendants on the inside of the chamber and how to deal with emergencies. This is especially necessary where an emergency treatment is necessary, e.g. decompression sickness.
What topics are covered as part of the Chamber Attendant course?
1 - Orientation to hyperbaric chambers
2 - BIBS systems
3 - Practical – Chamber familiarization
4 - Environmental control
5 - Tending to the patient
6 - Use of chamber equipment & controls
7 - Pre-dive procedures
8 - Chamber emergencies
9 - Practical - dealing with complications
10 - Chamber fires
11 - Infection control & cleaning
12 - Practical - dealing with emergencies.
The manual and the associated learning opportunity will cover all of these (and other) aspects that are required for the safe chamber attendance and effective hyperbaric treatments.
What are the course objectives of the Chamber Operator course?
The Chamber Operator’s learning opportunity has been designed and created on the demand from specific facilities to provide recompression therapy for diving accidents and be sure that the persons providing this treatment are competent to manage the chamber hardware.
What topics are covered as part of the Chamber Operator course?
1 - Orientation: Operating hyperbaric chambers
2 - Exercise: Pipe-work mapping
3 - Practical: Control panel familiarisation
4 - Handling of oxygen
5 - Pre-dive procedures
6 - Practical: Basic chamber operation
7 - Chamber emergencies
8 - Chamber atmosphere limits
9 - Practical: Rapid operation & ventilation
10 - Chamber operating procedures
11 - S electing oxygen & treatment tables
12 - Practical: Occupant transfer-under-pressure techniques
13 - Chamber fires
14 - Practical: Chamber complications
15 - Practical: Chamber emergencies
16 - Practical: Fire & evacuation
17 - Practical: Locking in staff; locking out patients
18 - Practical: Additional operations.
This learning opportunity will focus on the training of the chamber operator during normal air diving. As an entry requirement, the candidates should have the following background training: First Aid and the Chamber attendant course.
The course is presented in a generic form, which allows students to work in any chamber environment. Training can also be customised to a specific chamber – this is the case when training is presented for a specific company or chamber complex.