SSS Network · Cabo San Lucas Hyperbaric Chamber
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 foreign tourists, to dive professionals who work in the area, although the HBOT cases are mainly done with the indigenous locals as charity work.
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.
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.
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 O2) 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
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.
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.
Cabo San Lucas Dive Operators
amigosdelmar.com.mx
scubadive.com
bajaex.com
cobi.org.mx
nautilusexplorer.com
solomarv.com
tiosports.com
uabcs.mx
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: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (U.S. Mountain Time, −7 GMT), 7 Days a Week