Oxygen Toxicity: Signs & Symptoms; Treatment; and Prevention (According to A Scuba Instructor)
I can hear you after you read the title of this blog: “wait a second Scuba Jay! oxygen can be toxic?!” Well, yes it can. Read on to find out all about oxygen toxicity; its signs and symptoms; how to treat it; and prevent it.
What is oxygen toxicity
Before we can get into what is oxygen toxicity, let’s take a step back and discuss our air we breath. So our air is made up of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% other gases.
Oxygen toxicity is the harmful effects of oxygen at certain depths. When diving on standard air (21% oxygen) oxygen can become toxic at 180ft. Since our recreational dive depth limit is 130ft, we do not have to worry about oxygen toxicity while staying within those limits while diving on standard air.
Some divers like to dive on enriched air nitrox (“EAN” or just “nitrox”). This is where you increase the percentage of the amount of oxygen that is in your tank to a higher amount than is in standard air. For example, EAN 32 is where the oxygen percentage is increased from the standard 21% to 32% and then the nitrogen is reduced from 78% to 67%.
Divers use nitrox mixes to reduce the amount of nitrogen that they are taking in while diving. It is the nitrox we take in (“ingass”) while diving that can lead to decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis. Before you dive on nitrox, you need to be trained and certified so that you know the risks, including oxygen toxicity, that come with that air mixture. While diving with nitrox may get you a longer dive, it is a common misconception that nitrox will get you a deeper dive. In fact, with more oxygen in your tank, your depth will most likely need to be reduced to avoid getting oxygen toxicity.
Causes
As mentioned above, oxygen can become toxic at certain depths. The depth depends on if you are diving standard air or nitrox, with a higher percentage of oxygen than found in standard air. So what causes oxygen toxicity is going too deep for the amount of oxygen you are diving on.
Signs And Symptoms
Oxygen toxicity can lead to various symptoms including muscular twitching, shortness of breath, coughing and visual field loss. Bigger concerns include convulsions and unconsciousness, which can lead to drowning.
Treatment
If you suspect someone has oxygen toxicity, safely end the dive immediately and administer 100% oxygen. Then get them to a medical care treatment facility to see what, if any, further steps need to be taken.
Prevention
You prevent oxygen toxicity by watching your depth. If diving standard air (21% oxygen), do not go below recreational limits (130ft). If diving nitrox, follow the nitrox guide tables on depth for the percentage of nitrox you are diving.
An important note here is to not dive nitrox, or any mixed gasses other than standard air, unless you have been trained and certified to do so. Any reputable place will not let you touch nitrox without seeing your certification, but there may be some that are more lax. Remember, at the end of the day, it is you, as a certified diver, that is primarily responsible for your safety while diving.
Wrapping Things Up
So there you have it. Oxygen toxicity is relatively easy to avoid. If diving standard air, stay within recreational diving depth limits. Unless trained otherwise, like being certified on nitrox, use only standard air. Following your training is key to safely accomplishing any dive. Have fun and be safe out there.
If You’re Looking For other Scuba Diving Tips, Check Out The Below.
- Carbon Monoxide Toxicity
- Hand Signals
- Decompression Sickness
- Nitrogen Narcosis
- Middle Ear Squeeze
- Scuba Gift Ideas
- Mask Fog
- Carbon Dioxide Toxicity
- Scuba Tank Markings
- Reverse Block
- Mask Squeeze
- Overexpansion Injuries
- Sinus Squeeze
- Scuba Cameras (Under $600)
- Stress And Panic
“How boring would the world be if everywhere and everyone were the same. Safe travels and good adventures.” Scuba Jay
