b'Underwater Diving EmergenciesChapterUnderwater diving is a popular recreational activity and there are also many who dive professionally. People sometimes strike difficulty and problems can arise leading to a unique first aid situation. Complications include decompression illness, rising pressure problems within the ears, sinus and lungs. Contaminated breathing gas such as carbon monoxide and marine stingers can also pose a serious threat when underwater diving.Divers generally use Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) where the air is delivered from the tank via a pressure regulator attached to a mouthpiece.The breathing air can also be supplied from the surface via surface supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA)Divers are vulnerable to a variety of potential injuries and illness which include ear injuries, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, heart attack etc. Breathing compressed gas underwater can lead to unique medical problems, the most significant being decompression illness (DCI) and pressure damage of the lungs known as pulmonary barotrauma (PBT).Australian hyperbaric units treat an average of 125 cases of DCI each year.Decompression illness and pulmonary barotrauma require specialist first aid considerations, including prompt and continued administration of near 100% Oxygen. 248 Underwater Diving Emergencies'