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.