Great news for divers in Quebec, especially for those in the area of Les Escoumins. The Centre de santé et des services sociaux de la Haute-Côte-Nord   recently purchased a Hyperlite hyperbaric stretcher, which has been operational since May 2008.  The Fondation Bulles d’Air and members of the organizing committee have worked hard on this project. The Fondation du Centre de santé des Nord Côtiers is responsible for the purchase. This enabled the organizing committee to raise the funds necessary to acquire the first Hyperlite stretcher in North America used for emergency medical care.  The Centre de médecine de plongée du Québec (CMPQ) and the Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ) joined in on this project in order to provide training and develop emergency response protocols.  The CMPQ will also ensure the continuity of hyperbaric care and the evacuation, if necessary, to the hyperbaric chamber located at the Hôtel–Dieu de Lévis.

The portable hyperbaric stretcher is truly one of a kind. It can be pressurized at up to 2.8 ATA (the equivalent of a depth of 60 feet) to provide hyperbaric treatments to a diver.  The Hyperlite also has another interesting characteristic: it can be easily moved by four people to the appropriate evacuation vehicle while keeping the diver under pressure and continuing  hyperbaric treatments.  Evacuation can be done by ambulance, helicopter or airplane.

The province of Quebec has acquired a major tool for diving emergency response operations and hyperbaric treatment. It will be possible to treat an injured diver within an hour of an accident, which should greatly reduce the risk of major side effects.

Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services Mr. Phillippe Couillard Announces  New Hyperbaric Service at the Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis.