inflammatories may be helpful. It is recommended that frequent flyers maintain impeccable oral care and avoid flying if tooth discomfort is present.
DECOMPRESSION Decompression is simply defined as the release of
pressure. This release of pressure can occur in a rapid, unplanned manner such as what happens in an aircraft cabin. This rapid release of pressure to a sealed system is typically the result of human error.
Decompression may be classed as slow, rapid or explosive. Slow decompression happens gradually, longer than 10 seconds, and hypoxia may set in before it is noticed. Explosive decompression is violent, usually occurring in less than 1 second. Explosive decompression occurs too quickly for air to safely vent from the lungs and may not give passengers a chance to react.
Rapid decompression, although fast, can still be slow enough to allow the lungs to vent and give passengers a chance to don oxygen masks. Rapid decompression usually takes several seconds to occur, but the altitude at which it occurs will dictate the reaction time for passengers.
Decompression sickness (DCS), also known as “the bends”
, describes a condition where excess nitrogen
is released rapidly, creating bubbles inside the blood or other body tissues. Decompression sickness is most commonly a result of scuba diving but may be exacerbated by flying soon after a dive or during an aircraft depressurization.
These bubbles can form in or move to any part of the body. Decompression sickness can therefore produce many symptoms including rashes, paralysis, joint pain or death. The potential severity of DCS is such that in the aviation environment, recognition is the key.
Successful recovery depends upon early recognition. If you have experienced a decompression, some symptoms to watch for are joint pain, itchy skin, numbness, tingling, visual disturbances, headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath.
Treatment centers on hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a recompression chamber. If treated early, there is a significantly higher chance of successful recovery. If untreated, severe DCS can result in permanent damage or death.
82 Other Medical Emergencies
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