Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is well known for treating scuba and deep-sea divers affected by the rapid change in pressure around them. But did you know that HBOT is also used to treat a variety of other health problems, including carbon monoxide poisoning and diabetic foot ulcers?

If you are considering the use of a HBOT device for yourself or a loved one, be aware that some claims of what it can do are unproven. For example, HBOT devices are not proven to cure cancer, Lyme disease, autism or Alzheimer’s disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends you check with your health care provider before using a HBOT device to make sure you are pursuing the most appropriate care. If your health care provider recommends HBOT, the FDA advises that you go to a hospital or facility that has been inspected and is properly accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical SocietyExternal Link Disclaimer.

SASOM Position Statement on the South African Thoracic Society (SATS) Updated Position Statement on Pulmonary Function Testing. SASOM is of the opinion that the risk in the current Covid-19 South African pandemic is still high, so spirometry should be limited to cases where there is an important clinical or other substantial indication, taking all the updated SATS requirements issued on 23 September 2020 (refer attachment) into consideration. In all other instances, testing should be deferred where the perceived risk outweighs the benefit.

This guidance covers the return to commercial offshore surface supplied and saturation diving after confirmed or suspected COVID-19. It also contains recommendations for the assessment of fitness for diving duties of asymptomatic offshore commercial divers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The assessment of asymptomatic divers is necessary to identify potential pulmonary changes in those who contracted the disease but were symptom free. It is recognised that the guidance may be of interest to other diving sectors (e.g. inland/inshore, military etc.).

Guidance for Medical Examiners of Divers Conducting Face-to-Face Medicals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this guidance note is to give advice about how medical examination and assessment of commercial divers may be done adequately and with a low risk of transmission/infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance contains advice on risk assessment of clinical examinations, spirometry and exercise testing, and how infection risk can be managed. It is not the intention of this document to be prescriptive or provide detailed advice on all aspects of the examinations. National legislation and the requirements of professional regulatory bodies may impose restrictions on the conduct of full medical examinations of divers. These take precedence over this guidance and must be observed.

EUBS & ECHM position statement on recreational and professional diving after the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Some countries in Europe have started to release the strict preventive measures taken to combat the spread of SARS-CoV2 and COVID-19 disease. As a result, and depending on the epidemiological situation in the region, the previous EUBS/ECHM position statement on the advisability of recreational and professional diving and performing diving medical examinations during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak must be updated to reflect the new situation in some regions.

EUBS & ECHM position statement on the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. This Position Statement complements a previous Statement (“ECHM position on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in multiplace hyperbaric chambers during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak”, 16th March 2020), which remains fully valid. Concerns regarding transmission and infection risk in hyperbaric chambers were also addressed in this first Position Statement. The present Position Statement addresses the use of HBOT as a treatment modality for COVID-19 patients.

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EPA reviews and registers antimicrobial pesticides, which include disinfectants for use on pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. View frequent questions about disinfectants and Coronavirus (COVID-19).