Diving in the Philippines is all year-round but the best time is generally from December to April. The monsoon season starts July to September. The hottest months are April, May and June with temperatures over 32 oC. Water temperatures all year round are 27-31oC. This is one of the reasons why millions dive here in the Philippines aside from the fact that the entire archipelago has thousands of dive spots to offer.
Airgurus Ltd. Co., the only professional air ambulance and medical evacuation provider in the Philippines did the medevac/medical evacuation of a 24 years old male Israeli from Puerto Princessa, Palawan last April 1, 2011.
This diver from Israel had two pleasurable dives in Palawan, Philippines. His first dive started at 11am and the second dive was at 2pm when something happened. It was when the Israeli diver figured in diving mishap. He had himself checked right away at a District Hospital and was initially diagnosed with mediastinal emphysema which required him to be rapidly transported to a hyperbaric chamber anywhere in the Philippines. Airgurus flew this diver from Puerto Princesa, Palawan to St. Luke's Hospital Global City as advised by his insurance company.
Mediastinal emphysema is one of the maladies that can afflict underwater underwater divers who breathe compressed air. As a diver descends, the external pressure upon his increases. The air he breathes is more dense and concentrated than the air breathed on the surface. While the diver remains deeply submerged, there is no difficulty. However, when he begins to ascend again, the external pressure decreases and the lungs begin to expand because the air inside has less pressure to contain it. If the diver breathes normally or exhales as he ascends at a moderate rate, the extra gas pressure is relieved by exhaling. If the diver holds his breath, rises too rapidly, or has respiratory obstructions such as cysts, mucus plugs, or scar tissue, which do not permit sufficient release of air, the lungs become overinflated and rupture. Air bubbles can enter the veins and capillaries of the circulatory system directly, causing an air embolism, or they can travel through the lung tissue to other areas of the body.
In mediastinal emphysema, the air bubbles usually pass along the outside of blood vessels and the respiratory tubes (bronchi) until they reach the mediastinal cavity. This area contains the heart, major blood vessels, main bronchi and the trachea (air tube from nose and mouth). Air trapped in the mediastium expands as the diver continues to rise. The pressure may cause intense pain beneath the rib cage and in the shoulders; the expanding air may compress the respiratory passageways, making breathing difficult, and collapse blood vessels vital to circulation.
The symptoms of mediastinal emphysema may range from pain under the breastbone, shock, and shallow breathing to unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and cyanosis (blue coloring of the skin). In cases in which the symptoms are not severe, the air will be absorbed by the body, or it may be removed by inserting a long hypodermic needle into the mediastinum to draw off the air. If there is a respiratory or circulatory distress, the victim must be recompressed in a hyperbaric chamber so that the body can resume its' essential functions before the air is removed such as in the case of the aforementioned diver.
Diving in the Philippines is a great experience but there are unexpected hazards that may come along with it if one is not being careful. Airgurus Ltd. Co. encourages local and foreign divers intending to dive in the Philippines to check their insurance companies and to make sure that air ambulance / medevac is covered.
Thanks to Neal Lim for the images!
Airgurus Ltd. Co., the only professional air ambulance and medical evacuation provider in the Philippines did the medevac/medical evacuation of a 24 years old male Israeli from Puerto Princessa, Palawan last April 1, 2011.
This diver from Israel had two pleasurable dives in Palawan, Philippines. His first dive started at 11am and the second dive was at 2pm when something happened. It was when the Israeli diver figured in diving mishap. He had himself checked right away at a District Hospital and was initially diagnosed with mediastinal emphysema which required him to be rapidly transported to a hyperbaric chamber anywhere in the Philippines. Airgurus flew this diver from Puerto Princesa, Palawan to St. Luke's Hospital Global City as advised by his insurance company.
Mediastinal emphysema is one of the maladies that can afflict underwater underwater divers who breathe compressed air. As a diver descends, the external pressure upon his increases. The air he breathes is more dense and concentrated than the air breathed on the surface. While the diver remains deeply submerged, there is no difficulty. However, when he begins to ascend again, the external pressure decreases and the lungs begin to expand because the air inside has less pressure to contain it. If the diver breathes normally or exhales as he ascends at a moderate rate, the extra gas pressure is relieved by exhaling. If the diver holds his breath, rises too rapidly, or has respiratory obstructions such as cysts, mucus plugs, or scar tissue, which do not permit sufficient release of air, the lungs become overinflated and rupture. Air bubbles can enter the veins and capillaries of the circulatory system directly, causing an air embolism, or they can travel through the lung tissue to other areas of the body.
In mediastinal emphysema, the air bubbles usually pass along the outside of blood vessels and the respiratory tubes (bronchi) until they reach the mediastinal cavity. This area contains the heart, major blood vessels, main bronchi and the trachea (air tube from nose and mouth). Air trapped in the mediastium expands as the diver continues to rise. The pressure may cause intense pain beneath the rib cage and in the shoulders; the expanding air may compress the respiratory passageways, making breathing difficult, and collapse blood vessels vital to circulation.
The symptoms of mediastinal emphysema may range from pain under the breastbone, shock, and shallow breathing to unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and cyanosis (blue coloring of the skin). In cases in which the symptoms are not severe, the air will be absorbed by the body, or it may be removed by inserting a long hypodermic needle into the mediastinum to draw off the air. If there is a respiratory or circulatory distress, the victim must be recompressed in a hyperbaric chamber so that the body can resume its' essential functions before the air is removed such as in the case of the aforementioned diver.
Diving in the Philippines is a great experience but there are unexpected hazards that may come along with it if one is not being careful. Airgurus Ltd. Co. encourages local and foreign divers intending to dive in the Philippines to check their insurance companies and to make sure that air ambulance / medevac is covered.
To know more about medical evacuation for divers in the Philippines, contact +632 6248274 | +632 2749758 | +639 925 889 2987 | +63 917 885 7911or email them at info@airgurus.ph. For fast quotation, please visit the website www.airgurus.ph.
Thanks to Neal Lim for the images!