Monoplace Delivery System

Monthly Hyperbaric Safety Notice: March 2008

Emergency Procedures

Background

Hyperbaric medicine when practiced diligently is a safe discipline. However, accidents happen, equipment fails, complacency occurs. These events can quickly turn a safe environment into a catastrophic situation, particularly in the hyperbaric medicine department if the situation is not handled by trained professionals.

The Issue

All staff is required to complete an in-depth initial orientation process, followed by every six month competencies to ensure we maintain safe operations in the HBO unit. NFPA 99 Chapter 20.3.1.4.3 through 3.1.4.5 provides guidelines regarding training on emergency procedures that are specific to the hyperbaric environment. These emergency procedures have been posted in hyperbaric centers. Individual units must run safety drills monthly in order to keep in compliance with our safety standards. Chapter 20.3.1.4.4.2 recommends that all personnel working in the HBO unit, including physicians, be trained in the procedure to emergently decompress the chamber should an unexpected and particularly hazardous event occur in the department. Because of the potential hazards associated with the operation of emergency chamber venting, the ‘red button’ must never be used for any other reason (routine decompression, for example) than to emergently decompress a patient.

Bottom Line

When the need to emergently decompress occurs, we recommend a procedure of pressing the red button for three seconds on, then three seconds off at a time until the chamber reaches surface pressure. Emergency venting can only be done when the chamber master valve is turned to emergency vent. Use the attached sign off sheet to document confirmation of proper training in emergency procedures, to include emergency decompression of the chamber.

Individual Emergency Decompression Competency (PDF)

Stacy Handley, RN, BSN, ACHRN, CWCN

Stacy Handley Stacy is Vice President of National Baromedical Services. She assumed her present position following several years as nurse manager of the NBS hyperbaric medicine service at Memorial Hospital, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Stacy oversees the patient care aspects of the NBS network, conducts quality assurance and compliance assessments and preceptors all new NBS nurse managers. Additional responsibilities include marketing and promotion of NBS service lines and generation of monthly safety notices. Stacy is Member at Large for the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Associates and a board member for the Baromedical Nurses Association. She has trained as a Hyperbaric Safety Director and a UHMS faculty accreditation surveyor, and is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina ‘Wound Care Specialty Course’ through which she obtained her wound care certification

Full Panel of Safety and Technical Correspondents

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