Exclamation PointPlease call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.

The Bends/Decompression Syndrome Treatment

Call 911 if the person has any of the following symptoms within an hour of surfacing:

After calling 911 for immediate symptoms, take the following steps.

1. Administer CPR, if Necessary

 

2. Contact Divers Alert Network (DAN]

 

3. Watch for Symptoms if They Didn't Appear Immediately

 

4. If Symptoms Appear in the Next Few Hours

If the person has severe pain but no obvious neurological symptoms or other distress:

 

5. If Symptoms Appear Later

If symptoms progress slowly or aren't obvious for days:

 

6. Follow Up

Hospital follow-up will depend on the severity of symptoms.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Varnada Karriem-Norwood, MD on October 02, 2011