MALAYSIA (10 Jan 2004) -- Can a person dive after two months of being cured of cocaine addiction? Such a complex question being posed is the result of local efforts to understand more about scuba diving and its health repercussions. The answer can only be given once a doctor knows the diver's history of illness, injury and subsequent treatment. But the concern in Malaysia is that general physicians with basic training in diving are still not able to assess some divers fully. Also, the Royal Malaysian Navy's (TLDM) Department of Diving Medicine runs South-East Asia's largest hyperbaric chamber and treats up to 45 cases of diving-related accidents annually. Many of these are life-threatening thus more knowledge in this area is needed. To bridge this gap, the department held a Diving Medical Officer's Course in Lumut, Perak last December. The eight-day course ・claimed to be the first of its kind in the country ・was aimed at training local doctors in the physiology and medicine of diving and included diagnostics, treatment and assessments of divers for fitness to dive. Diving gurus Bob Ramsey and Dr Carl Edmonds were on hand to share their knowledge. While Ramsey provided up-to-date information on hyperbaric technology, it was Dr Edmonds who stole the limelight with his laid-back humour and impressive analysis of case studies. Dr Edmonds' authority is derived from his experience as a diver and training as a doctor in the early 60s. Forty years and over a dozen books later, Dr Edmonds has done much to improve the safety of divers. The course provided a tour of the hyperbaric chamber in the naval base, plus actual practice sessions in the diving pool. Malaysian Armed Forces Director General of Health Services Brig Gen Datuk Dr R. Mohandas was also present. The Navy is planning to conduct this course over the next five years, hoping to utilise local expertise and experience. | | The Department of Diving Medicine head, Lt Kol Dr Abdul Halim Mohamed, was abuzz with optimism. "Through this course, we achieved our aim of training 15 doctors in dive medicine and also took an in-depth look at several issues ・particularly fitness to dive and clinical hyperbaric medicine. "Before this, we only had four doctors practising diving medicine. In future, we'll probably have 20 times the number. For now, these doctors are more than able to treat diving emergencies, provide assistance, and advise divers,'' he said, adding that the course will be open to more civilian doctors. Their ability to make the correct diagnosis early on will make the difference in the diver's eventual recovery. Finally, for doctors and scuba divers who've been wondering about the answer to the question posed at the beginning of this article, Dr Edmonds says, "No, a person cannot dive just two months after being cured of cocaine addiction. And this applies to any sport activity for one year." The reason? Cured cocaine addicts experience arrythmia within that time period. Arrythmia, irregular beating of the heart, has proven to be exacerbated by diving and could prove fatal. Despite its science and intricacies, diving medicine just goes to prove that the more you know about diving, the more you realise how little you know. That alone should be reason enough to keep us learning. SOURCE - The Star Online |
