What is the treatment and management of a non convulsive diver with O2 toxicity?

• A. Abort the dive; signal dive buddy; abort dive/make controlled ascent and exhale through nose; close dive surface valve and remove the mouthpiece; inflate life vest; notify dive supervisor; watch for progression of symptoms
• B. Abort the dive only
• C. Continue the dive and monitor symptoms
• D. Remove the mouthpiece and surface immediately without warning

Answer: (A)

Nonconvulsive oxygen toxicity is a neurological response to high oxygen exposure that can progress to seizures, so the priority is to stop exposure quickly and manage the ascent safely. The best approach is to abort the dive immediately, signal your buddy, and make a controlled ascent to reduce the partial pressure of oxygen your body is absorbing. Cutting off the oxygen source by closing the surface valve and removing the mouthpiece helps prevent further inhalation of high-O2 gas. Inflating the life vest assists a safe, controlled rise to the surface, where you can be monitored and rescued if needed. Notifying the dive supervisor ensures the incident is documented and medical assessment can follow, and watching for progression of symptoms is crucial because O2 toxicity can evolve after surfacing. This sequence—abort, buddy signaling, controlled ascent, stop gas supply, buoyancy aid, supervisor notification, and symptom monitoring—addresses both immediate risk reduction and ongoing safety.