Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: techdiver

Message Display

Paul,

Re your post: That's *exactly* what I've been trying to say. But unless I
have missed many posts, I think I hear George and others saying that
industrial gas is as good as or better (and cheaper) than medical gas.

There are places where medical gas O2 costs are outtasight - most of South
America for example. Try buying medical O2 in Patagonia or parts of Brazil
- you'll need to mortgage your gran. So if people are going to get gas
from commercial sources, wouldn't it be nice to know what standards are
out there. Then at least you could ask whether your commercial supplier
meets them.

George's comment that you will always know when you have a CO fill is just
not true. People die every year from CO poisoning (at much lower pCOs than
diving and some while they are diving. You can't always rely on their
beinghydrocarbons for your to taste/smell) because they realize too late
that it's odorless, colorless and tasteless. You can even be a major
tennis star, and get killed by your home heater. More important, very low
concentrations can significantly impair you without killing you directly -
that's called a SCUBA "accident"  when you die making the wrong decision.
CO poisoning has "interesting" long-term neuropsychiatric sequellae for
the survivor.

Now George, before you spank my pony, no one is calling into question
certified suppliers in countries where the O2 manufacturer supplies both
industry and hospitals - just that it seems reasonable to check CO in
places where you have doubts about compliance with the standards.

whew

Peter Heseltine

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]