Divers should be properly trained and aware of the dangers of decompression sickness and pulmonary barotrauma (lung damage caused by high pressure).
Training should include how to go down into the water and surface safely.
The following advice can help avoid decompression sickness and lung damage when diving:
- Limit the depth and duration of your dive to restrict the amount of nitrogen that your body absorbs.
- Come up to the surface slowly, with several stops on the way. This allows nitrogen to escape without causing harm.
- Do not dive with a cold, cough or chest infection as this can increase the risk of air embolism (see Air embolism - causes for more information).
- After diving, wait for 12 to 24 hours before flying or going to a higher altitude.
Surgery
As healthcare standards in the UK are high, air embolisms caused by surgery are rare.
In hospitals and health centres, care should be taken to prevent air bubbles from entering the bloodstream. Before injections, air should be removed from syringes and surgery should be closely monitored to ensure that air bubbles do not form in blood vessels.
Catheters or other tubes that are inserted into the body should be removed using a technique that minimises the possibility of air embolism.
