Fuad El-Hibri is a philanthropist and business executive. Mr. El-Hibri works in the biopharmaceutical industry as founder and Executive Chairman of Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and in his spare time he enjoys scuba diving. As a diver, Mr. El-Hibri is aware of the dangers than can result from improper diving practices, one of which is ‘the bends,’ or decompression sickness.
Decompression sickness (DCS) occurs when nitrogen builds up in the bloodstream because of ascending too quickly while diving. Bubbles form in blood vessels, blocking the flow of blood. The best way to prevent DCS is to ascend slowly, with safety stops every 15 feet.
The symptoms of DCS include pain, tingling, numbness, and paralysis. Without treatment, the effects of DCS, or “the bends,” can be permanent. The best first aid for DCS is to have the affected person breathe pure oxygen until they can be brought to a recompression chamber for treatment.
Recompression therapy compresses the bubbles in the bloodstream. This allows them to slip through obstructions in the blood vessels, and as the nitrogen and bubbles are expired through the lungs, the pressure can slowly be reduced. The diver will continue to breathe pure oxygen, alternated with air, specified by the treating physicians. With treatment, there is very good probability of a full recovery: 71% of people recover immediately, and 98% recover fully within 12 months.
Decompression sickness (DCS) occurs when nitrogen builds up in the bloodstream because of ascending too quickly while diving. Bubbles form in blood vessels, blocking the flow of blood. The best way to prevent DCS is to ascend slowly, with safety stops every 15 feet.
The symptoms of DCS include pain, tingling, numbness, and paralysis. Without treatment, the effects of DCS, or “the bends,” can be permanent. The best first aid for DCS is to have the affected person breathe pure oxygen until they can be brought to a recompression chamber for treatment.
Recompression therapy compresses the bubbles in the bloodstream. This allows them to slip through obstructions in the blood vessels, and as the nitrogen and bubbles are expired through the lungs, the pressure can slowly be reduced. The diver will continue to breathe pure oxygen, alternated with air, specified by the treating physicians. With treatment, there is very good probability of a full recovery: 71% of people recover immediately, and 98% recover fully within 12 months.
