Correct Usage of 1.3ATA Portable Hyperbaric Chamber | 2020

1.3ATA Portable Hyperbaric Chamber: How to Use it?

Portable hyperbaric chambers come in different model variations including 1.3ATA portable hyperbaric chamber or the 1.5ATA portable hyperbaric chambers among others. The word “portable” is self-explanatory.

It does give away the basic idea about these chambers. Instead of being installed in one particular place, which is the case with many chambers. It is possible to easily transmit these portable chambers. Since they are lightweight, thus they are gain popularity among medical staff as well as individuals.

Hyperbaric chambers are effective. However, it is important for you to understand when and how to use them. So, to make things easier for you below is a complete guide on the usage of portable hyperbaric chambers.

Portable Hyperbaric Chamber: Usage Guide

The objective of portable hyperbaric chambers is to treat a couple of medical conditions. You can use this lightweight equipment to treat people suffering from server acute mountain sickness (AMS). In addition, medical personnel uses them for emergency treatment of severe cases of high altitude cerebral oedema, high altitude pulmonary oedema among others.

Before you use them, it is important to inflame them. There are two methods of inflating the chamber. First, you can either a foot pump to inflate it. Second, you can go with hand inflammation. The basic working principle of the machine is the rapid pressurization of the patient.

It means the patient would be in an environment that would offer a higher level of oxygen. Thus, resulting in increased oxygen pressure. This pressure would help simulate a descent of about fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred meters.

The Math of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers

Now that you have a clear understanding of the functionality of these portable hyperbaric chambers. Now it is time to focus on how the math of the ATA. When buying a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, it is important to understand the key concepts.

The major difference between most chambers is the ATA value. Therefore, understanding the value would help you use the chambers more effectively. We understand that people often find the math of hyperbaric oxygen confusion. However, we will try to simplify it as much as possible.

The atmosphere of the earth weighs down at us at a certain pressure amount. For instance, if you live near a sea level, for example, Houston, you would be experiencing one atmosphere of the pressure.

The pressure increases ever time you descend into the ocean. In case, you go 33 feet into the ocean, you will be feeling an additional “1” amount of the pressure. So, now, your body is exposed to 2 atmospheres of pressure.

To make things simpler, we also consider the fact that every count of the pressure starts at the sea level. That is the atmosphere absolute. (ATA). The diving industry led to the development of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In diving history, there were using chambers in order to recompress drivers with the bends.

Feet at Sea Water Measurement

Initially, in the United States of America, there were gauges that used the feet of seawater measurement. Its abbreviation is “FSW”.

If you are still confused. Let’s do this again.

You are at a seal level, it means your body is exposed to 1 atmosphere. Now, you dive 33 fsw into the sea. Once 33 feet inside, your body is exposed to 2 atmospheres. One is of the earth and the second one is of the water.

Clear? So, let us focus on the gases in the air. ATA is no the only way to measure pressure. You can also use the millimeters of mercury (mmHg) to measure pressure. AT sea level, 1-atmosphere pressure equals to 760 mmHg.

This 760 mmHg contains 79% nitrogen and just 21% oxygen. So, this means you are breathing just about 160 mmHg of oxygen. Remaining whatever, you are breathing is nitrogen. Here, the chambers come into action.

Instead of you breaking mostly nitrogen, they tend to make it possible for you to breathe mostly oxygen. They increase the pressure and allow the body to intake a greater amount of oxygen. For quite some time, inflatable chambers, medical spas among others are providing low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapies.

Here, we are going to focus on how much oxygen do these chambers provide when they are pressurized with air.

A 1.3ATA portable hyperbaric chamber is consisting of 988 mmHg of total pressure.  Now, when you are breathing in the air inside the chamber, you are actually breathing only 169 mmHg of oxygen. So, you will multiple 160 mmHg x 1.3 ATA = 208 mmHg.

208 / 760 = .27. This makes 27 percent oxygen. According to this math, a person tends to breathe 27% of oxygen a mask when they breathe air in an inflatable chamber at 1.3 ATA.

We do hope that this has cleared your concept of the ATA.

How to Use a 1.3ATA portable hyperbaric chamber?

Below, is a short guide developed by the UIAA MedCom. The guide is for interested non-medial persons, doctors, expedition or trekking operators. It helps them understand how to use the portable chamber, especially at a high-altitude environment.

• Safety Management Principles
• The Gold Standard is to prevent any altitude disease.
• Remember, prevention is better than cure.
• Give adequate acclimatization after planning profiles for sensible altitude.
• Do not use Hyperbaric Chambers for mild AMS
• Oxygen chambers are not meant to treat mild AMS symptoms. On the contrary, they should be used for serious cases. Nor are these chambers designed to facilitate continued ascent in order to go on to another day with the passable acclimatization.
• A better option is that you slow your ascent rate and take a break for a day.
• Hyperbaric Chambers are effective for serious altitude diseases such as HACE, HAPE, and AMS.
• You can gain valuable time via hyperbaric bags as they only give relief.
• It is important to take the chamber with you during the retreat. This would help in case of a rebound.
• Make sure that the patient has a company in case of retreating.
• Use the time in order to retreat from altitude
• The patient should avoid working to avoid rebound symptoms, especially in severe cases. The patient should avoid walking even a short distance. However, in case it is impossible for the patient to descent without working, only then be walking. Also, the person should be exertion free as much as possible.

Take Away

A 1.3ATA portable hyperbaric chamber is an effective form of relief therapy for people suffering from several altitude problems. Of course, Medicare around the world is using these oxygen chambers for more than relieving the altitude problems.

There are several other medical problems that use the chambers to generate better results. However, the misuse of these chambers can be troubling. Therefore, reaching out to a doctor or a professional before you finalize taking the therapy.

A doctor would be able to guide you in the best possible way on how to go about the 1.3ATA portable hyperbaric chamber therapy.

Another important thing is to ensure that you have the right chamber manufacturers. After all, the quality and the effectiveness of these hyperbaric oxygen chambers greatly depend upon the manufacturers.

Macy-Pan is among the leading manufactures for all types of oxygen chambers. Due to their 13 years of experience, they are familiar with all the ins and outs of the industry. They promise to deliver quality and their efficient customer service would answer all your queries.