Isla Mujeres Hyperbaric Chamber Receives Maintenance to Ensure Safety for Fishermen

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — Authorities have completed comprehensive maintenance on the hyperbaric chamber at Isla Mujeres to ensure it remains in optimal condition for treating diving emergencies, particularly among the local fishing community.

Municipal official Atenea Gómez Ricalde emphasized that these maintenance efforts are part of ongoing work to strengthen healthcare services for residents, with priority given to fishermen who rely on the facility for decompression sickness treatment.

Specialized technicians conducted inspections and repairs on compressors, the hyperbaric cylinder, instrumentation systems, and mechanisms for air and oxygen supply, filtration, and accumulators. The multi-day maintenance aimed to guarantee proper equipment function, extend its lifespan, and ensure prompt, safe treatment for those requiring hyperbaric services.

Teresa Gómez Herrera, the municipal health director, explained that this preventive maintenance occurs every six months as part of a strategy to maintain a functional, safe, and available hyperbaric chamber. The facility serves not only Isla Mujeres fishermen but also those from Chiquilá, Holbox, and Puerto Juárez.

Hyperbaric chambers are critical for treating decompression sickness, which occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in the bloodstream during deep diving. The treatment involves breathing 100% oxygen under pressure, which helps eliminate trapped nitrogen bubbles, regenerate tissues, reduce inflammation, and aid recovery from chronic injuries or dangerous dives.