b'Decomprhapteression Illness (The bends)Chapter During the dive, nitrogen from the breathing gas is absorbed into the body tissues. If the diver ascends too quickly or if the nitrogen levels are at a maximum, the nitrogen tends to disperse into the blood as tiny bubbles thereby reducing vital oxygenated blood supply to various organs (Hypoxia).Decompression Illness (DCI) encompasses two diseases, decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE). DCS is thought to result from bubbles growing in tissue and causing local damage, while AGE results from bubbles entering the lung circulation, travelling through the arteries and causing tissue damage at a distance by blocking blood flow at the small vessel level.How to RecognisePain, numbness and tingling sensations in the limbs and joints.Headache, nausea and sometimes vomiting.Fatigue and poor coordination, unsteadiness, loss of balance.Chest pain and associated breathing difficulty.General muscle weakness, in one or both arms and / or legs.Visual, hearing and speech problems.Change in the voice and coughing episodes.Mottled skin rash (purple/reddish patches).Altered conscious responses.Ruptured Lung (Pulmonary Barotrauma)Unless the diver can adequately control exhalation, the accumulated gas in the lungs expands as the diver ascends. This will lead to distension and possible rupture of the affected lung or lungs allowing the gas to escape.How to RecogniseChest pain with extreme shortness of breath.Coughing sputum which may be stained with blood.Blueness of lips and tongue (Cyanosis)Mottled, blue skin colour.Crackly skin around neck (crepitus) Symptoms and signs of Distress, acute anxiety and fear. decompression illness may also be present.Underwater Diving Emergencies 249'