SOS Hyperlite Saves Life of Diver in Les Escoumins, Canada

A Scuba diver who suffered decompression sickness after a rapid ascent received urgent, local treatment in a SOS Hyperlite Hyperbaric Stretcher, making a full recovery. The Hyperlite, which is stationed at the Health Centre of the Haute-Côte-Nord, Québec Province, was purchased for the rapid response to diving accidents and incidences of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. The diver benefitted from having local treatment with the minimum of delay.

In a brief interview with the Journal de Québec, Dr Guillaume Lord, the local hyperbaric physician made the following comments:
“Sunday was the first time in Canada that we have used a portable hyperbaric chamber in a hospital. The incident followed an uncontrolled ascent from the deep. The Diver received exactly the same treatment as he would have received at the Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Hospital in Quebec (the nearest alternative hyperbaric facility some 300km away). The portable chamber saves us time, whilst also averting the need to take the patient over high ground, which would aggravate the decompression problem further.”

The Hyperlite at Les Escoumins was purchased in 2008 through fund raising activities primarily for the benefit of the diving community.

Mr. Jocelyn Boisvert, ex-Canadian Navy clearance Diver and Co-ordinator of Centre de Médecine de Plongée du Québec gave the following statement: -
“We treated a diver this weekend in the Hyperlite (TT6) for 5 hours and everything went as per the planned protocol. The diver was released without any residual symptoms. The quick response to treat the diver was a key factor in the result. Our Doctor was on the phone with the technician and was able to coordinate the treatment from his office here in Lévis Québec.”

Used primarily for the treatment of pressure related injuries for military, commercial and sports diving accidents, as well as in battlefield medicine and aeromedical evacuation. the SOS Hyperlite’s unique portable design makes it ideal for quick deployment and as first response medical aid.

For further information about Hyperlite Hyperbaric Stretchers, please contact Paul Selby on +44 (0) 845 263 8155 or alternatively email paul@hyperlite.co.uk.

SOS Hyperlite Ltd is the original developer and remains the sole manufacturer of the Hyperlite hyperbaric stretcher, a folding portable pressure vessel for human occupancy (PVHO), suitable for treating and when required, the transportation of that person, whilst still under pressure to a medical facility.
Applications include: -
• Diving, DCS and AGE
• Submarine Escape and Rescue
• Battlefield & EOD Medicine – especially in connection with Blast Injury and long term onset of serious disabilities
• High Altitude Operations – DCS and Altitude Sickness
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Smoke Inhalation

SOS Hyperlite
Milennium House,
Victoria Road
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM2 4RW

This release was published on openPR.