The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research based in Assaf Harofeh is currently the largest hyperbaric facility in Israel and one of the biggest worldwide, treating more than 120 patients per day.

As well us using HBOT for burns, radiation injuries and non-helaing ulcers, The Sagol Center has also started research into using hyperbaric oxygen therapy for different types of brain injuries, proposing a brighter future for many patients who could now benefit from the non-invasive, highly effective treatment. Read more about the research and facilities at the Sagol Center by clicking here.

Spring is doing its hardest to live up to its name - the daffodils are cautiously unfurling their dazzling yellow petals, the residents of St John's Wood are donning ridiculous sunglasses to sip their frappuccino's outdoors, and I can finally reveal what we at LDC have been beavering away on for the last few months. Much like the aforementioned dam-building semi-aquatic rodent, we've avoided hibernation this winter, and instead constructed our own literary cathedral: the ultimate medical guide to this sport we all love, which we've called FAQ DIVE MEDICINE.

Composed and compiled from our vast archives of medical memorabilia, and wittily edited together by Tanked Up's resident comedian Rob Hunt, it's been a gestation and labour of some devotion. To continue with the somewhat queasy antenatal metaphor, delivery has now taken place and you'll be pleased to hear both parents and offspring are doing well, with multiple identical copies winging their way to depots all over the country pending official release on 31st March. Within its 336 pages of wholesome, aquatic, full-colour goodness you're sure to find tidbits and morsels to ruminate on, chew over, roll thoughtfully around the tastebuds, and eventually swallow, releasing all sorts of diving-based information and anecdotes into your thirsty brains.

Forget tablets from a certain fruit-based computer company; this is THE hot product right now. For those many millions of you who just can't bear the prospect of not owning a copy as soon as possible, you can pre-order on Amazon via the link below.

I look forward to hearing what you all think!

Oli

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FAQ-Dive-Medicine-Oliver-Firth/dp/095534672X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331568301&sr=1-1

Greetings all and welcome to the occasional, intermittent and incongruous blog of Dr Oli. I'll be posting as and when I come across anything that might be of interest to our friendly diving brethren. The intention is to edify and amuse in roughly equal amounts, although for a guaranteed dose of the latter, I urge you to visit our fave dive instruct-or's blog.

I hope you all managed to catch BBC2's recent documentary on human physiology at depth, To Boldly Go. If not, guide your restless mouse fingers over to Dr Kevin Fong's very watchable programme on how our species' implacable urge to explore has driven us to overcome our physiological limitations, and descend to quite remarkable depths. It contained some great footage of oxygen toxicity, saturation diving and the effect of 5 atmospheres on a glass of champagne (or was it Prosecco - BBC budget cuts are clearly biting!) Having known Kevin for several years, I was able to forgive his use of the split infinitive in the title, particularly as he managed to explain some quite complex physiological concepts in a clear and entertaining way. Plus he recommended his wedding photographer to me, who did an exceptional job at my recent nuptials. So give the good doc a viewing and allow him to properly demystify the raptures and perils of the deep - see what I did there?

Oli