Under what condition should air treatment tables be used?

Air treatment tables are specifically designed for specific situations where oxygen therapy may not be available. They use regular air to provide decompression treatment for divers who are experiencing symptoms of decompression sickness (DCS) or other diving-related emergencies. The rationale behind this is that while pure oxygen is often the preferred treatment for DCS due to its ability to reduce nitrogen bubbles in the body more effectively, there are circumstances where oxygen may not be accessible or feasible for treatment.

Using air treatment tables only when oxygen is not available ensures that divers still receive appropriate treatment in critical moments. It is important to understand that air treatment is less effective than oxygen therapy for treating DCS, which is why it is not the first choice for all cases or for symptomatic patients. In cases where a diver exhibits severe symptoms or for asymptomatic divers, specialized treatment protocols would typically be employed, emphasizing the need for oxygen as a primary resource whenever possible.