‘October, 2017’ Archive
Here at Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery, it is our honor and privilege to serve any and all First Responder and Firefighters.
In our most recent North Bay Area Fire, many of these men and women have literally worked 9 days straight, off one shift and back on for 48 hours or more.
Thankfully, this fire has ended, but many continue to suffer from fatigue, smoke and poisonous gas inhalation and other respiratory issues.
Our Firefighters and First Responders didn’t want to leave this fight, even knowing many of their homes were gone.
Jeff, wants you to know “we have an excellent Fire Department! and we still got over run by the fire due to the 70 mph winds and embers flying in every direction.”
When Jeff came to Advanced Hyperbaric with symptoms of headache, extreme fatigue, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and more, we knew he needed our help.
Knowing the protocol for Jeff, we had the great pleasure to support him recovering from the above symptoms.
We want to help, knowing we can not remove the grief or suffering of this heart aching disaster we can still provide medical life saving care.
We are seeking donations to support
All Firefighters and First Responders
who put their life on the line fighting recent fires in Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin and Napa County.
H.O.P.E. for Healing Institute’s mission is to alleviate suffering and improve quality of life through Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy! Please help us help those Firefighters and First Responders who have taken care of our communities.
HOPE for Healing Institute, a a501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Tax ID #26-4647649
For more information or donations by check:
HOPE for Healing Institute
1118 Irwin St
San Rafael, CA 94901
These photos were taken by a first responder in Santa Rosa
Fires are burning throughout Our NorthBay of California. Sadly there are serious health impacts.
Did you know that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) treats Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning is the most common cause of death in fire victims.
These men and women have been exposed to the leading cause of death related to fire, smoke inhalation and CO poisoning. These victims of smoke inhalation suffer a mixture of injuries from airborne particles, burns to the throat and lungs and chemical poisoning. The combustion of plastics and synthetic materials produces a higly toxic mix of cyanide and CO, both, which bind to hemoglobin in red blood cells and block their capacity to carry oxygen to cells and tissues. This is particularly dangerous to the central nervous system.
Symptoms Include:
- headaches
- nausea and vomiting
- dizziness and general malaise
- altered mental status
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- myocardial ischemia and cardiac arrest
Some 50–80% of fire deaths are the result of smoke inhalation injuries, including burns to the respiratory system. The hot smoke injures or kills by a combination of thermal damage, poisoning, pulmonary irritation and swelling, caused by carbon monoxide, cyanide and other combustion products.
The death rate of patients with both severe burns and smoke inhalation can be in excess of 50%.
Any person with apparent signs of smoke inhalation should be immediately evaluated by a medical professional such as a paramedic or physician. In severe cases Hyperbaric Oxygen is highly suggested. Advanced medical care may be necessary to save the life of the patient, including mechanical ventilation even if the person is conscious and alert. Pending advanced intervention, the patient should be brought into fresh air and given medical oxygen.
Carbon Monoxide, CO, is a colorless, odorless poison gas formed by incomplete combustion, first described by John Scott Haldan, the father of oxygen therapy, in 1908.
CO mainly effects the heart and brain. About 14% of surviving patients have permanent brain damage. Delayed neurological sequelae (problems resulting and persisting from the original injury) occur 3-21 days later and can also cause increased cardiovascular-related death over 10 years following injury.
(1) In a published article of a clinical trial comparing cognitive function of patients treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBOT) vs. normobaric oxygen, (100% O2 via face mask or nasal cannula delivered at a “sea level” of normal pressure. (2)
Because hemoglobin likes CO nearly 220 times better than oxygen, and binds to it readily, the entire oxygen transport uptake and utilization system is disrupted. A direct cascade of injury to the central nervous system; the brain, as well as major blood vessel injury.
Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen HBOT:
- HBOT is a primary treatment.
- HBOT speeds carboxyhemoglobin dissociation (gets CO off the hemoglobin molecules) and improves tissue oxygenation.
The half-life of CO is removed from hemoglobin at 320 minutes on room air (5 hours and 20 minutes), 90 minutes on 100% O2 and 23 minutes at 3 ATA (in a hyperbaric O2 chamber).
- Reduces cerebral edema and intracranial pressure by constricting brain vessels.
- Reduces pulmonary edema caused by smoke inhalation
- Inhibits the toxic process, speeds recovery, reduces the number of delayed functional and neurotic abnormalities and reduces mortality.
- Improves the mitochondrial function.
- Inhibits lipid peroxidation transiently.
- Impairs leukocyte adhesion to injured microvasculature.
- Inhibits neutrophil adhesion to the vasculature. (3)
Optimal benefit from HBOT occurs in those treated with he least delay after exposure (1)
Call us today for more information or to schedule a consultation with our Medical Hyperbaric Physician!
Jacqueline S Chan, DO
Physician, Medical DirectorDr Jacqueline S Chan, DO is Board Certified in Family Practice, Board Certified in Holistic medicine, Board Certified in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, including Osteopathic Medical Board of California and a DEA License.
Here, Dr. Chan is standing beside the artwork of our dear and very talented patient, Susan Swartz, who continued to check on us amidst the fires to make sure our staff and facility were ok. – The love was greatly appreciated.Call for an appointment with Dr. Chan