SAIPAN, CNMI (26 July 2005) -- A lawmaker says Saipan is being marketed as a top diving destination yet it doesn't have a decompression chamber to treat divers who may need one in case of emergencies. Last Saturday, a 29-year-old tourist nearly drowned at the Grotto. Representative Clyde Norita, Covenant-Saipan and a candidate for senator, said these incidents should be a wake-up call for the government. "We go out and announce to the world that we have one of the world's best diving spots but we don't have a support system for the visiting divers. We don't have diving emergency regulations. We don't have a decompression chamber," said Norita in an interview yesterday. Norita authored House Bill 14-217 which seeks to require all scuba dive shops, jet ski, banana boat and parasail operators to collect a US$2 surcharge per customer who avail themselves of their services so that the government can raise enough funds to buy a decompression chamber. The House passed the measure last December 21, 2004 but it remains pending in the Senate. "We need to pass that legislation," said Norita who chairs the House Committee on Federal and Foreign Relations. He said the Japanese government may be already concerned over the recent drowning and near drowning incident involving Japanese nationals at the Grotto -- a 200-ft. cavern that leads to the open sea. | | A decompression chamber is a machine used to treat a person suffering from what is called decompression sickness -- a disorder that affects deep-sea divers. It is caused by nitrogen bubbles in the blood and is characterized by severe pain and paralysis. There is no decompression chamber available at the Commonwealth Health Center or any of its health facilities on Rota and Tinian. If a scuba diver suffers decompression sickness, he or she has to be flown to Guam. A single treatment in a decompression chamber costs about $10,000. Under House Bill 14-217, CHC, the Rota Health Center and the Tinian Health Center will each have a decompression chamber. Norita said the decompression chamber can be used for diabetics as well. The CNMI, ranked as third in the world among areas with the highest incidence of diabetes 2, will find the decompression very useful, Norita said. "On Saipan, out of 160 diabetics, 70 have open sores or related injuries. The decompression chamber will help them because it speeds up the healing process," he said. SOURCE - Marianas Variety |
