TESTCENTRE
The stuff of life
San-O-Sub Oxygen Therapy Kit
COMPANY : NAUTILUS PRICE : £ 699 TEL : 0333 444 0104 WEB : WWW . NAUTILUS . UK
To the vast majority of divers Decompression Illness ( DCI ) is something that happens to other people . Poor diving practice can be a cause , but despite using the most cautious of profiles and staying well within the recommended limits of depth and time , it can nevertheless occur due to a number of other factors .
Whether diving from a RIB , a charter boat or shore , access to an oxygen therapy kit is essential . Considering its importance , it ’ s a relatively inexpensive piece of kit and the more divers qualified to operate an O2 kit the better . It ’ s currently a mandatory requirement for Dive Leaders and has been since 2002 .
When DCI strikes it ’ s often far away from medical assistance , so treating it as soon as possible until medical professionals in the form of a helicopter of ambulance are able to attend , can make all the difference to a diver ’ s recovery .
Oxygen therapy kits come in a variety of shapes and sizes , but portability and easeof-use are paramount in the close confines of a car , van or dive boat .
Italian manufacturer San-O-Sub ’ s Oxygen Therapy Kit , distributed by Nautilus in the UK , consists of a compact 200 bar , 5-litre cylinder , complete with a multifunctional valve . This incorporates a flow reducer and a choice of two methods of gas supply to the casualty .
Contained within an 80cm by 16cm high-impact case , the whole setup weighs around 7.5kg , with its integrated handle making transportation a doddle . The unit is easily stored , and can be strapped to a cylinder rack either upright or horizontally for quick and easy access .
Twisting off the threaded cover takes seconds and deployment is similarly as rapid . Of the two masks supplied , one is a demand valve fronted with a transparent silicone mask / head strap . Connection is via a push and twist bayonet valve . In the event of a conscious and breathing casualty , the demand valve is the preferred option which extends the oxygen supply .
The second option is a highconcentration , non-rebreather mask . Its plastic tubing simply pushes directly onto the relevant port and provides the wearer with a constant flow of O2 .
These ancillaries are stored within in the cover itself and promptly attached to the valve . This is protected by a black plastic cage / guard to prevent damage when stored , and particularly in use when it may have to take some rough handling in an emergency situation .
Oxygen is switched on and off via the valve ’ s black side-mounted valve handle and flow is regulated from zero to thirty litres / min by using the green twist knob on the top . The chosen flow rate is displayed in a window while a contents gauge gives a visual indicator of the remaining gas . �
SCUBA SAYS
The SOS Oxygen Therapy Kit offers great value-for-money for clubs , charter boats and individuals . In an ideal world you ’ ll never have to use it , but having this compact and easily deployed lifesaver to hand can make all the difference to a casualty .
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