Commissioning ceremony for Jamaica's only Hyperbaric chamber

Event Date: 
Mar 13 2013 - 10:00am

The Hyperbaric Treatment Facility at the University of the West Indies' Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory,  is the only such facility operating in the island for the diving community.  The facility treats decompression illness caused by excess nitrogen loading of tissues due to improper diving practices such as not enough in-water decompression or ascending too quickly while holding breath.  Over the last 36 years, approximately 350 cases were treated at DBML; of this total, 75% were commercial fishers.  In April 2012, a new IHC Hytech chamber was purchased to replace the 36-year-old Perry lock chamber. This purchase was made possible through the Office of the Principal of the UWI Mona Campus and an $11.8M grant to the Centre for Marine Sciences from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). The new chamber is fitted with digital displays; built in cameras, rectangular doors for easy access to the chamber by stretcher and wheelchair, as well as seating for up to 8 divers to be treated simultaneously or two prostrate cases.

Venue: 
Discovery Bay Marine Lab
Event Image: 

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