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Commercial Course No 58 - Week 9
Monday 2nd November
First day of our level three course. We welcome Grant Temple who has come to complete level 3 training. This course is not for everyone. Our standards and diving conditions are very demanding. Today we start chamber operation. The initial theory covers – history of chambers, types of chambers, legal requirements, basic plumbing and features and operational conditions then it’s out onto the chamber to practice ascent and descent rates flushing and personnel transfers. We will spend the week learning what you need to become a fully qualified chamber operator.
Tuesday 3rd November | | Rick watches students test out the chamber |  |
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We dive into some more chamber theory - this time operational emergencies, including oxygen toxicity, loss of power or gas, leaking portholes or door seals and fire. The prac today includes the same skills from yesterday plus using the medical lock and oxygen BIBS and chamber abort and rapid decompression techniques.
Wednesday 4th November | | CJ & Andrew run the chamber | |
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More chamber theory – this time the physiological implications of CO2 and then onto tables. Therapeutic tables 61 & 62 along with SUR-D tables. Then everyone gets to practice a surface decompression run. Now the real fun starts. We give the students as much time on the chamber as possible so they can get comfortable with it.
Thursday 5th November | | Hannah exits the Chmaber | |
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More theory this morning followed by more practice . We also revisit the tables for a refresher in preparation for the SUR-D at Dartmouth. Prior going to Dartmouth the students will run the chamber for their own SUR-D dives.
Friday 6th November | | CJ runs the chamber | |
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To increase the students’ practical experience we complete a table 62, which runs for a total of 4 hours: 45 mins. Everyone gets good experience at running chamber and a few dips as well. Today we also do the neurological assessment. Students practice reflex tests and responses on each other. The favourite is the plantar response where the blunt end of a reflex hammer is dragged over the instep of the foot. The toes should curl inwards, that’s provided the patient isn’t so ticklish that he can’t stand the test. It all sounds like a lot of fun but of course there is a very serious reason for teaching the tests. The chamber operator might have to act on the results so they have to get it right.
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