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- Second Largest Hyperbaric Chamber will open soon in Milwaukee
Second Largest Hyperbaric Chamber will open soon in Milwaukee
- By Stephen Weir
- Published 06/25/2008
- Diver News Archives
- Unrated
Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir is a well-known Toronto based communicator. He has been writing and taking photographs for Diver Magazine for almost 30 years.
View all articles by Stephen WeirChamber opens in August
This August the Aurora St. Luke's Medical Centre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin will begin to treat patients in what will be North America's second largest hyperbaric chamber. Milwaukee is a major hub for Lake Michigan shipwreck divers.
The new chamber is 52-foot-long and weighs 66-tons. It is only 3' smaller than North America's largest chamber, which is currently in use in the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The hospital decided six years ago to purchase a large chamber, which can treat up to 24 divers at a time. The chamber was built in Queensland, Australia and was shipped to the US in February. It arrived in Milwaukee in April and is in the process of being installed and tested.
Above: Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center's new hyperbaric chamber was installed in April after being lifted by a huge crane and placed into the basement through a 1,100-sqft hole. It will be fully operational in August.
"Hyperbaric chambers are primarily used to help treat difficult wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, but also are used for carbon monoxide poisoning and a host of other medical conditions," explained Hospital spokeswoman, Sue Pierman. "We are also very well equipped to handle scuba emergencies and we expect that patients from all over the region will feed into our facility, once it is operating."
Jack Simanonok, M.D., a hyperbaric physician at the hospital, said there is a growing need for hyperbaric therapy beyond just treating injured divers. "The role of hyperbaric medicine is becoming increasingly important as the incidence of diabetes increases, the population ages and the number of chronic wounds exceeds 6 million yearly. There are currently 24 million diabetics in the U.S., approximately 8 percent of the population, and these patients are at significant risk for complications related to diabetic foot disease. Obesity and tobacco use also impact the body's ability to heal and may contribute to the development of chronic wounds."
Until the chamber is functioning the hospital will continue to treat people in it twin chambers that were installed in 1965 and nicknamed Bonnie and Clyde. The Bonnie chamber can accommodate up to six patients, while the Clyde chamber can treat two patients at a time.
The Aurora hospital is the only Wisconsin health system accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. It is one of only 88 accredited nationwide, and was given accreditation "with distinction," which places it in the top 10 percent of accredited hyperbaric facilities in the United States.
Why Divers Travel to Milwaukee to Dive
Milwaukee is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, an area that has much to offer including a wide variety of wreck diving. According the Nordic Diver Shipwreck Exploration (www.nordicdiver.com) website some of the popular sites that Milwaukee divers regularly visit include:
- Prins Wilhelm V. (250 ft Dutch Freighter sank in 80 ft of water 3 3/4 miles from Milwaukee).
- Kate Kelly. (126 ft 19th century two-masted schooner foundered sank in 50 ft of water, 2 miles from Milwaukee).
- Milwaukee Car Ferry. (318 ft steel railroad car ferry loaded with 27 box sank 79 years ago in 120 ft of water, 6 miles from Milwaukee)
- Wisconsin. (203 ft steamer went down in 1929. She lies in 130 ft from Milwaukee)
- EMBA. (Three masted schooner barge was scuttled in 132ft. This intact wreck is 7 miles from Milwaukee in 170 feet of water)
- St. Albans. (Built in 1868 this wooden steamer sank 13 years later. She is upright in 165 ft of water, 7 miles from Milwaukee)
Hyperbaric Chamber Factoids
- The new Aurora hospital hyperbaric chamber has two large main treatment areas, each 10 ft X 20 ft. It can accommodate up to 24 seated patients, or a mix of patients in wheelchairs and beds.
- The National Fire Protection Association has strict rules about what patients can wear or take inside the enclosed, oxygen-rich space. Electronic devices including cell phones and iPods are not allowed.
- Hyperbaric chambers originally had rounded corners because rectangular corners could not be reinforced enough to handle the pressurized atmosphere. The development of stronger metals now allows for rectangular designs.
The new chamber is 52-foot-long and weighs 66-tons. It is only 3' smaller than North America's largest chamber, which is currently in use in the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The hospital decided six years ago to purchase a large chamber, which can treat up to 24 divers at a time. The chamber was built in Queensland, Australia and was shipped to the US in February. It arrived in Milwaukee in April and is in the process of being installed and tested.
Above: Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center's new hyperbaric chamber was installed in April after being lifted by a huge crane and placed into the basement through a 1,100-sqft hole. It will be fully operational in August.
"Hyperbaric chambers are primarily used to help treat difficult wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, but also are used for carbon monoxide poisoning and a host of other medical conditions," explained Hospital spokeswoman, Sue Pierman. "We are also very well equipped to handle scuba emergencies and we expect that patients from all over the region will feed into our facility, once it is operating."
Jack Simanonok, M.D., a hyperbaric physician at the hospital, said there is a growing need for hyperbaric therapy beyond just treating injured divers. "The role of hyperbaric medicine is becoming increasingly important as the incidence of diabetes increases, the population ages and the number of chronic wounds exceeds 6 million yearly. There are currently 24 million diabetics in the U.S., approximately 8 percent of the population, and these patients are at significant risk for complications related to diabetic foot disease. Obesity and tobacco use also impact the body's ability to heal and may contribute to the development of chronic wounds."
Until the chamber is functioning the hospital will continue to treat people in it twin chambers that were installed in 1965 and nicknamed Bonnie and Clyde. The Bonnie chamber can accommodate up to six patients, while the Clyde chamber can treat two patients at a time.
The Aurora hospital is the only Wisconsin health system accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. It is one of only 88 accredited nationwide, and was given accreditation "with distinction," which places it in the top 10 percent of accredited hyperbaric facilities in the United States.
Why Divers Travel to Milwaukee to Dive
Milwaukee is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, an area that has much to offer including a wide variety of wreck diving. According the Nordic Diver Shipwreck Exploration (www.nordicdiver.com) website some of the popular sites that Milwaukee divers regularly visit include:
- Prins Wilhelm V. (250 ft Dutch Freighter sank in 80 ft of water 3 3/4 miles from Milwaukee).
- Kate Kelly. (126 ft 19th century two-masted schooner foundered sank in 50 ft of water, 2 miles from Milwaukee).
- Milwaukee Car Ferry. (318 ft steel railroad car ferry loaded with 27 box sank 79 years ago in 120 ft of water, 6 miles from Milwaukee)
- Wisconsin. (203 ft steamer went down in 1929. She lies in 130 ft from Milwaukee)
- EMBA. (Three masted schooner barge was scuttled in 132ft. This intact wreck is 7 miles from Milwaukee in 170 feet of water)
- St. Albans. (Built in 1868 this wooden steamer sank 13 years later. She is upright in 165 ft of water, 7 miles from Milwaukee)
Hyperbaric Chamber Factoids
- The new Aurora hospital hyperbaric chamber has two large main treatment areas, each 10 ft X 20 ft. It can accommodate up to 24 seated patients, or a mix of patients in wheelchairs and beds.
- The National Fire Protection Association has strict rules about what patients can wear or take inside the enclosed, oxygen-rich space. Electronic devices including cell phones and iPods are not allowed.
- Hyperbaric chambers originally had rounded corners because rectangular corners could not be reinforced enough to handle the pressurized atmosphere. The development of stronger metals now allows for rectangular designs.