What Are The Bends In SCUBA Diving? Decompression Sickness Explained.

If you need to contact DAN here is their website and phone number.

Divers Alert Network Emergency Hotline: [phone]

In this video I go over decompression sickness, also known as the bends, which can occur after diving. You’ll learn all about the factors that can make a person more susceptible to decompression sickness, the importance of adhering to safety guidelines, following dive tables or your dive computer as well as why you need to ascend at a safe rate.

I also discuss the symptoms of decompression sickness, ranging from skin itching and fatigue to more severe symptoms such as joint pain, numbness, dizziness, and even blindness or paralysis.

You’ll learn why it’s important to seek immediate medical care if any symptoms occur and why you should contact Emergency Medical Services first.

We also discuss the importance of contacting Divers Alert Network (Dan) for assistance.

In this video, you’ll also learn 12 rules you can follow to reduce the risk of decompression sickness as well as 4 Myths.

[00:00:00]: Introduction

[00:00:30]: What is decompression sickness?

[00:02:01]: In-gassing and out-gassing of nitrogen explained

[00:02:55]: How decompression sickness occurs

[00:03:12]: Why it’s called "the bends"

[00:04:02]: Factors that make you susceptible to decompression sickness

[00:05:00]: Physical characteristics and decompression sickness

[00:05:09]: Exertion and temperature as risk factors

[00:05:38]: Importance of proper ascent rate

[00:06:01]: Risk factors for decompression sickness

[00:06:24]: Symptoms of decompression sickness

[00:08:08]: Signs of decompression sickness in others

[00:09:05]: Differentiating type 1 and type 2 decompression sickness

[00:09:40]: What to do if someone experiences decompression sickness

Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace formal SCUBA training that is required to go SCUBA diving.

[DiverTee]

Thank you sir. This is by far the most informative on bends. Respect from the Fiji Islands 🇫🇯

[AlexArrigoni]

Never, thanks for your video. When I make multiple dives in a day I breath pure oxygen for few minutes and it really helps to expel nitrogen and reduces risk of bends.