RETURN TO DIVING

Course overview

AFTER AN EPISODE OF DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS OR OTHER DIVING-RELATED INJURIES, MANY DIVERS WANT TO GO DIVING AGAIN EITHER FOR RECREATION, WORK, OR MILITARY SERVICE. THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACTORS THAT LED TO THE INJURY AND CAREFUL CLINICAL EXAM WILL HELP THE DIVING MEDICINE SPECIALIST TO DECIDE IF ADDITIONAL TESTS ARE INDICATED AND TO ADVISE THE DIVER OF HIS FUTURE RISK WITH A RETURN TO DIVING. GUIDELINES DO EXIST FOR MILITARY, GOVERNMENT, SCIENTIFIC AND COMMERCIAL DIVERS. HOWEVER, NO GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES FOR RECREATIONAL DIVERS, INCLUDING DIVE MASTERS AND DIVE INSTRUCTORS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CURRENT STATUS OF RETURNING TO DIVING AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MINIMIZING THE RECURRENCE OF DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS.