How should a patient be positioned during transport if they show symptoms of decompression sickness or arterial gas embolism?

When a patient exhibits symptoms of decompression sickness or arterial gas embolism, positioning is crucial for their safety and care during transport. A supine position—lying flat on their back—helps facilitate proper blood flow and may alleviate excessive pressure on the body, which is particularly important in cases of gas bubbles in the bloodstream or tissues.

This position also minimizes the movement of the patient, reducing the risk of exacerbating the condition. Keeping the patient flat allows for better access to perform any necessary interventions and enhances comfort during transport. It is the preferred method to prevent complications that may arise from other less stable positions, which could potentially worsen the patient’s condition.

Other positions, such as head-down or vertical, could lead to complications by increasing pressure in the vascular system or making the patient more unstable, which is not advisable in these critical situations.