Which action is a correct treatment approach for hypercapnia during a dive?

Which action is a correct treatment approach for hypercapnia during a dive?

• A. Decrease exertion, increase ventilation, and abort the dive
• B. Increase exertion and hold breath
• C. Descend deeper to gain pressure
• D. Ignore symptoms and continue diving

Answer: (A)

Hypercapnia on a dive means CO2 is building up in the body because ventilation isn’t keeping pace with production. The best way to address this is to reduce the diver’s exertion (which lowers CO2 production), increase ventilation (to blow off CO2 more effectively), and abort the dive to surface for assessment and treatment. Lowering effort slows the generation of CO2, while better breathing helps remove it. Aborting the dive prevents further exposure and allows on-surface care. Pushing harder or holding your breath would worsen CO2 retention, descending deeper doesn’t fix the problem and can worsen gas exchange, and ignoring symptoms is dangerous.

Hypercapnia on a dive means CO2 is building up in the body because ventilation isn’t keeping pace with production. The best way to address this is to reduce the diver’s exertion (which lowers CO2 production), increase ventilation (to blow off CO2 more effectively), and abort the dive to surface for assessment and treatment. Lowering effort slows the generation of CO2, while better breathing helps remove it. Aborting the dive prevents further exposure and allows on-surface care. Pushing harder or holding your breath would worsen CO2 retention, descending deeper doesn’t fix the problem and can worsen gas exchange, and ignoring symptoms is dangerous.