You arrive on the scene to find a scuba diver on board a boat slumped over in the captain's chair with frothy blood in his mouth.The captain states that the diver was down no more than 15 feet when he ascended rapidly and called for help.Which of the following is most likely?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Frothy blood in the mouth is a symptom of an air embolism, which occurs when a gas, such as air, enters the bloodstream and travels to vital organs. Rapid ascent from a dive can cause pressure changes that result in an air embolism. Decompression sickness (A) and the bends (B) are also caused by rapid decompression but do not typically result in frothy blood in the mouth. Caisson's disease (D) is a type of decompression sickness that occurs in workers who perform construction in compressed air environments.

You Arrive on the Scene to Find a Scuba Diver