How can divers suffering from early symptoms of carbon monoxide toxicity be treated?

Divers experiencing early symptoms of carbon monoxide toxicity should be treated with 100% oxygen at the surface. This method is effective because it helps to displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin more rapidly than ambient air. When a person breathes pure oxygen, the partial pressure of oxygen in their lungs increases significantly, allowing carbon monoxide molecules to be more effectively eliminated from the blood, thereby reducing its harmful effects on the body.

The treatment is crucial because carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin much more strongly than oxygen, creating a state of hypoxia. By providing 100% oxygen, you raise the concentration gradient, facilitating the release of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin and promoting its excretion through respiration. This is the optimal and widely accepted practice among divers and medical professionals dealing with carbon monoxide exposure.

Using aspirin, disconnecting the oxygen source, or administering antihistamines are not effective treatments for carbon monoxide toxicity and could potentially worsen the situation. This emphasizes the importance of understanding proper emergency protocols and treatments related to dive-related illnesses.