Final answer:
To reduce the risk of decompression sickness, divers must ascend slowly or perform decompression stops, allowing the gradual release of gases from the blood. If DCS occurs, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be needed. Research is ongoing to improve testing and treatment for DCS.
Step-by-step explanation:
As responsible divers who want to reduce the risk of decompression sickness (DCS), also known as "the bends," there are several precautions and procedures that must be followed to ensure safety. Decompression sickness is a result of the increased pressure of the air inhaled by scuba divers and the higher concentrations of gases dissolved in the diver's blood under this pressure, as per Henry's law. When a diver ascends too quickly, the ambient pressure decreases, the dissolved gases become less soluble and may form harmful bubbles in the blood.
To avoid DCS, divers must ascend from depths at slow speeds (10 or 20 m/min) or perform several decompression stops, pausing at given depths during the ascent. This allows for the gradual release and elimination of the gases dissolved in the blood. If a diver experiences DCS, they may need hyperbaric oxygen therapy in decompression (or recompression) chambers.
Barophysiologists, like Ingrid Eftedal, are researching body reactions to diving to further understand and develop better methods for testing and treatment of decompression sickness, making diving safer for everyone.