You arrive on the scene to find a scuba diver on board a boat slumped over in the captain's chair with frothy blood in his mout
h. The captain states that the diver was down no more than 15 feet when he ascended rapidly and called for help. Which of the following is most likely? A.
Caisson's disease
B.
The bends
C.
Air embolism
D.
Decompression sickness
When bubbles of air or any other gas cause a blockage of blood vessels in the circulatory system then this is known as air embolism.
There are several symptoms that are associated with this condition such as loss of consciousness, difficulty in breathing, bloody sputum, tremors, convulsions, etc.
Since in the given condition, the diver is having frothy blood in his mouth and since he ascended rapidly calling for help he is most likely to be suffering from an air embolism.
