Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Scuba Diving
Carbon Monoxide is a tasteless, colorless and orderless gas. Particular
concern to a diver is the compressor motor used to fill your tank, the fumes
given off by a dive boat's engine or possible contamination near a dive shop's
compressor intake.
If a diver breathes from a contaminated tank their blood can quickly become
saturated with carbon monoxide. This means oxygen does not get to the
body's tissues where it is needed. The result is carbon monoxide
poisoning.
How Do You Get Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
One of the most common ways for a diver to get carbon monoxide poisoning is
from the scuba tank being filled with contaminated air. This can occur if
the fresh air intake to the compressor is next to a source of carbon monoxide,
such as the exhaust of the engine driving the compressor.
Symptoms
Treatment
The treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is fresh air. Pure oxygen
should also be administered, if available. A check up at a hospital or
doctor is always advisable for any diving related medical condition; even if
the symptoms are mild.
Fortunately carbon monoxide poisoning is rare however it is always a good rule
to know where your air is coming from and if they follow proper procedures.
