OUR
HISTORY
The
Cabo San Lucas Hyperbaric clinic is part of the Medicina Hiperbarica Integral chain of chambers in Mexico (referred
to in short as "MHI"), which is in turn
a member of the SSS Network (Subaquatic Safety Services),
a global hyperbaric medicine provider. This facility
opened its doors to the diving community of Southern
Baja in 1993. It started its operations by concentrating
on diving illnesses and eventually became known to
the various medical specialists for its successful
record in treatments using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
(HBOT). Today, the chamber has treated over 75 injured
divers, which could have been permanently paralyzed
or suffered from neurological residual symptoms without
proper treatment. They have also treated 20 Hyperbaric
Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) cases. The patients who require
the use of our facility range from the Mexican and
foriegn tourists, to dive professionals who
work in the area, although the HBOT cases are mainly
done with the indigenous locals as charity work.
Chamber Tours
If you are visiting Cabo San Lucas and would
like to tour our facility, you are welcome! Chamber tours
are free, but we do ask that you contact us during normal
business hours by phone to arrange an appropriate time to
ensure there is no interference with any patient treatments
being conducted.
ABOUT
US/COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Our facility promotes safety through the education of dive
operators, consumers, and other medical and emergency care
providers.
The local area hospitals work closely with our facility
and often consult with our chamber medical staff on DCI related
topics to ensure early recognition and treatment of dive
related illnesses. Our continuing medical education and training
program has a special relationship with the Catalina (California)
Chamber - Member of the Wrigley Institute for Marine Sciences
of the University of Southern California (USC).
Our facility, with the help of several locally based dive
operators, has drawn up evacuation plans and as a result,
speedy transport from all popular dive locations by ambulance
is available to participating members. We also offer (free
of charge) Dive Accident Management training to all our members.
The SSS Network/Cabo San Lucas is also an advisor to Baja
University in matters of safety for their ocean research
program.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
The SSS Network / Cabo San Lucas Chamber
Facility is an International Divers Alert Network (IDAN) Referral Center,
part of the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) and
a member of the European Underwater and Baromedical Society
(EUBS).
UHMS: www.uhms.org
EUBS: www.eubs.org
OUR
STAFF
In addition to our regular business hours
of 9:00 to 17:00 Monday through Friday and 9:00 to 13:00
on Saturday, we maintain our clinic on a 24 Hour Emergency
Basis. Our staff includes Physicians, Emergency Medical Technicians
(EMT's), Chamber Operators and Chamber Attendants. All are
trained by accredited international associations in hyperbaric
medicine.
We also have on staff a variety of Instructors (Dive, CPR,
First Aid, and 02) to ensure ongoing safety training. We
are constantly updating our emergency medical techniques
through various Life Support Programs (PHTLS, ACLS, and ATLS).
The Cabo Chamber staff also engages in EMS and evacuation
activities whenever our services are required with the local
Aquatic Rescue team of the Red Cross, The Fire Brigade, and
the Coast Guard.
Listed below is the manager of the facility:
Antonio Luevanos - Manager
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OUR CHAMBER
& EQUIPMENT
The
SSS Network/Cabo San Lucas Hyperbaric Center uses a Multiplace
/ Multi-Lock Recompression Chamber, which is equipped
to accommodate up to two patients at a time plus an inside
attendant who accompanies the patient(s) for the duration
of the treatment.
A "Multiplace" / " Multi-Lock" Chamber allows
the chamber technician to transfer additional relief staff
or physician, supplies, and any other necessities to and
from the chamber without interrupting the treatment. The
chamber may be pressurized up to 50 meters or 165 feet
(fsw), allowing us to provide any of the table options
as outlined by the U.S. Navy treatment protocols. Many
chambers used worldwide today can only be pressurized
to 18 meters or 60 feet (fsw). While adequate for HBOT
(chronic wound healing treatments) they are incapable of
delivering the full range of treatment protocols for all
diving accidents. Multiplace and Double Lock chambers are
more expensive to operate, but we feel that the level of
medical care delivered is worth the extra expense.
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AFFILIATED
DIVE OPERATORS
The Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean meet
in Cabo San Lucas. This Sea of Cortez is a narrow, very
deep body of water which is home to Whale Sharks, Sea Lions,
and other extraordinary marine life. In tandem with our
local dive operators, and the MHI BAJA ACCESS PROGRAM,
we work to provide optimal treatment options in the case
of a diving accident.
If you plan on visiting Cabo San Lucas, please visit their
web sites and learn a bit more about them. These Dive Operators
have made a strong commitment to diving safety in the "Los
Cabos" area.
A brief description of the diving in each region will also be found
The Dive Operators are listed in alphabetical order below.
N.A. means a web site or email address
was unavailable at time of publishing.
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CONTACT
US
You may contact the SSS Network / Cabo San Lucas Facility via email, mail, and/or telephone/fax.
Email: cabo@sssnetwork.com
Mailing Address:
SSS NETWORK / Cabo San Lucas
Medicina Hiperbarica Integral
Hospital De Especialidades, Lopez Mateos S/N Entre Leona Vicario Y Morelos
Cabo San Lucas, BCS 23410, Mexico
Phone: / Fax: +52 (624) 143 3666
Normal Clinic Hours are: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (U.S. Mountain
Time, - 7 GMT), 7 Days a WeekCozumel
24 Hour Emergency Phone:
1-800 700 2666 (in Mexico only)
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