Sandals Water Operations Tour

BDF Hyperbaric Chamber

BDF Media Release | 04 SEPT 18
Photography credit:  Lt S Gollop

The Barbados Defence Force’s Florence Gittens Medical Facility facilitated a tour of its Hyperbaric Chamber for the Water Operations Crew of Sandals Barbados.

The tour, led by Professor Dr Timothy Roach, Major David Binks and Color Sergeant Susan Binks, was organized on the behalf of Mr Elijah Jean-Baptiste – Assistant Water Sports/Aqua Centre Manager, Sandals Barbados. Mr Jean-Baptiste highlighted that as a part of the local resort’s health and safety policy, it is important to investigate treatment options for visitors and staff who may require specialised medical treatment.

In a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, the air pressure is increased to three times higher than normal air pressure. Under these conditions, a patient’s lungs can gather more oxygen than would be possible breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. This helps fight bacteria and stimulates the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells which promote healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat several medical conditions including arterial gas embolism, burns, decompression sickness, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, crushing injuries, Gangrene, infection of skin or bone that causes tissue death and non-healing wounds, such as a diabetic foot ulcers.

Major David Binks explaining the functions of the Hyperbaric Chamber to  the Sandals (Barbados) Water Operations crew.