What is defined as a "heroic measure" in diving treatment protocols?

The definition of a "heroic measure" in diving treatment protocols specifically refers to the utilization of Treatment Table 7 for severe gas embolism cases. This designation is due to the critical nature of severe gas embolism, which can occur when gas bubbles form in a diver's bloodstream and impede blood flow, potentially leading to serious health consequences or death.

Treatment Table 7 is designed for the most urgent and severe conditions, requiring immediate and aggressive intervention to stabilize the diver's condition. This treatment protocol involves administering a higher pressure of oxygen, which enhances the resolution of nitrogen bubbles, reduces the size of the bubbles, and facilitates the safe elimination of these bubbles from the body.

While the other treatments mentioned, such as using standard treatment tables for Decompression Sickness (DCS) or other lower-level treatment tables, are important for managing less severe conditions, they do not reflect the urgency or the extremity associated with "heroic measures." Administering oxygen at the surface immediately, although beneficial, does not encompass the comprehensive approach and intensive resources utilized in Table 7. Therefore, Treatment Table 7 stands out as the critical step in addressing severe gas embolism, clearly marking it as a "heroic measure" within the diving treatment protocols