Category: Notice

A mask fitting guide for new and returning visitors to the chamber.

A guide to deep breathing that visitors to Bandon Hyperbaric Oxygen Center may find useful.

Clearing your ears to make them “pop”

Sometimes when the chamber is being compressed (at the start of session) or decompressed (at the end of session) you may have to clear your ears and make them “pop” like you would as if in an airplane. Sometimes simply sucking a sweet and swallowing will prevent the necessity to “pop” your ears. If sucking sweets does not work then a good technique to use is the Valsalva Manoeuvre as explained below.

How To Perform the Valsalva Manoeuvre to clear your ears?

1. Take a deep breath.
2. Pinch your nose shut. Keep your mouth shut.
3. Try to exhale air out through your closed nostrils.
4. Be sure to bear down as if you were going to the bathroom.
5. Hold that position for a few seconds.
6. Breathe out forcibly to release the breath rapidly. Your ears should pop.
7. Now, resume normal breathing.
8. If this does not work then please alert the operator for assistance.