What is essential to communicate to emergency personnel if a diver is suspected of decompression illness?

Communicating the diving profile, which includes depth and times, to emergency personnel is crucial when a diver is suspected of decompression illness. This information allows medical professionals to assess the situation accurately, as the type and severity of decompression sickness can be significantly influenced by how deep and how long the diver was underwater.

Understanding the diver's profile helps emergency staff determine the appropriate treatment protocols. Different depths and durations correspond to various levels of nitrogen absorption and subsequent risk for decompression sickness. This data is vital in formulating an effective response, including the possibility of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is often necessary for treatment.

While a diver's personal health history might be relevant in some contexts, and factors like equipment and weather conditions may have peripheral importance, they do not provide as direct an understanding of the dive conditions that contributed to the possible injury. The essential element of treatment in cases of decompression illness revolves around accurate dive data.