Shands UF Hyperbaric Chamber Closed.

Thank you. I hope to never visit that Hospital again.

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Originally Posted by OFG-1

OK, I hate to ask what maybe has been asked before, but I also hate to read 9 pages of useless BS.

What happened to Dave Desautels? Did he finally retire or fall over dead? Cindy, have you tried to talk to him?


PS - If any of you ask me who Dave Desautels is, you will make Forrest and I feel very old!

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Not yet. Do you have a contact for him? Cindy

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Originally Posted by Bluetickle

Remember I'm only one person, but I can help.

I work in hyperbaric at Shands. I can operate or be an attendant. I have a key to the door.

I have been told that if there is an emergency need for hyperbaric treatment, and if I am willing to volunteer, then it is OK to use the facility. I have considered resigning from hyperbaric, but this potential for emergency access has kept me from leaving.

This isn't official Shands policy, unfortunately.

I feel a duty to be there for the cave diving community when in need.

My wife also works in hyperbaric and can operate or be an attendant.

I can also think of two other people on the hyperbaric staff that would be very likely to be interested in volunteering to help. The rest of the staff including the manager would not be interested in helping, unfortunately.

I would also like to say that if you are stupid and reckless in your diving. Such as, alcohol is the main reason for your DCS problems, then I won't be as motivated to help.

Safe Diving

Jonathan

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Let me know Jonathan, I can help you find volunteers if Shands will let US meaning the cave diving community come in and do that. Patty seemed to feel they would not allow non-employee volunteers. I guess we could all apply and be PRN or something. Anyway you know my contact. Cindy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OFG-1

OK, I hate to ask what maybe has been asked before, but I also hate to read 9 pages of useless BS.

What happened to Dave Desautels? Did he finally retire or fall over dead? Cindy, have you tried to talk to him?


PS - If any of you ask me who Dave Desautels is, you will make Forrest and I feel very old!

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He's alive and well, and traveling all over the country, last I heard.

And you and Forrest are FAR from old. I wish I could keep up with ya's!

I sent an e-mail to the Doctors mentioned earlier in the thread. I also work for UF/Shands for the Critical Care Division. I haven't got a response yet, but when I do, I'll post what they said. We really do need to fight to keep the chamber open.

It seems that the only way to keep it open is to raise money. Someone mentioned T-shirts in another connection. Maybe NSS-CDS or NACD could sell T-shirts to raise money for the chamber. Maybe we could all kick in a buck a day for the chamber when we dive the springs; this seems to work in Cozumel. Could the ranger collect it? May be we could kick in two bits per 100 cubic feet of gas pumped (if Bill, Cathy, and Rich would be willing to collect it).

Laws are different in Mexico. A dollar a day from the few cave divers that dive each day wouldn't pay the amount of money required to keep a doctor on staff or even on call for the chamber.

I dont know if this thread was ever updated, but the Shands chamber is accepting divers for treatment.

Dont ask how I know!

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Originally Posted by KarsticGator

I dont know if this thread was ever updated, but the Shands chamber is accepting divers for treatment.

Dont ask how I know!

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I don't think it was ever a question of accepting divers, it was a question of the hours of availability, and when presenting...

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Originally Posted by netmage

I don't think it was every a question of accepting divers, it was a question of the hours of availability, and when presenting...

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Yeah... I heard that they don't accept patients in the evenings, but if notified during the day, they will accept an incoming patient.