In the wake of the tragic hyperbaric chamber fire that killed a 5-year-old child, there is much discussion about hyperbaric chamber safety. Several people who messaged me were shocked and worried that three people who operated the facility have been charged with second degree murder. The final report of the fire is not yet available, but some were concerned that medical staff were being unfairly charged. Well, I watched the arraignment of the owner in which the judge detailed the grievous list of (apparently willful) safety violations which led to the criminal charges. The veracity of the charges will be determined in court. That’s not what I want to focus on.
The message I want to get out is about the availability of hyperbaric safety standards and training. If you are affiliated with a hyperbaric chamber program, please join the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. That’s where you can obtain all the information you need about safety, training, and medical practice standards in the field of hyperbaric medicine. You can find out about training programs on the UHMS website.
It’s important for everyone to know that there are national standards for hyperbaric chamber equipment and clinical operations. The UHMS Accreditation Manual provides detailed information on those standards. You download the manual for free!
If your facility is not accredited, start the facility accreditation process through the UHMS.
If you are a patient, find the list of accredited facilities here. Patients can also use this blog article to see if the specific chamber in use at any facility is FDA cleared.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments are safe and effective when standards are followed. (That is true for every aspect of modern medicine that involves a piece of complex medical equipment.) Medical professionals must be committed to keeping patients safe – even though adhering to the highest standards usually involves additional time and expense. This is time and money we can’t afford NOT to spend. Patients can also help – by seeking facilities that offer the highest quality of care and participating fully in safety requirements – even then they involve annoying things like changing into special clothing and removing oil-based products. Let’s ensure that the little boy who died did not die in vain, by creating a culture of safety in all our facilities.
Dr. Fife is a world renowned wound care physician dedicated to improving patient outcomes through quality driven care. Please visit my blog at CarolineFifeMD.com and my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/carolinefifemd/videos
The opinions, comments, and content expressed or implied in my statements are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the position or views of Intellicure or any of the boards on which I serve.
Such a tragedy and a reminder that details matter everyday. Prayers to the family and everyone involved.