Physical therapist dies inside hyperbaric oxygen chamber at his Arizona facility

EvilEyeFleegle

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One must take some care...when messing about with oxygen, pressure and electronics.
I've heard this therapy promotes healing and extends life?


A physical therapist died after a flash fire broke out inside an oxygen therapy machine at his Arizona medical facility on Wednesday, officials said, marking at least the second such fatality in the U.S. this year.

Dr. Walter Foxcroft, 43, was found dead inside the hyperbaric chamber by firefighters who responded to his office, Navasu Health and Hyperbarics in Lake Havasu City, after a report of a fire just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, the fire department said.

When first responders arrived, crews found smoke billowing throughout the building and "an intact hyperbaric chamber that appeared to have had a flash fire in the chamber with one patient inside," the Lake Havasu City Fire Department said.
The man inside, identified as Foxcroft, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A hyperbaric chamber is a sealed tube that is pressurized with pure oxygen and helps treat various illnesses or wounds.

It is unclear why Foxcroft was inside one of the chambers. The cause of the flash fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

Foxcroft attended the University of Arizona as an undergraduate, "where he was also a collegiate athlete as the mascot," according to his profile on the medical center's website. He continued his career as a mascot as Big Red for the Arizona Cardinals, going with the NFL team to Super Bowl XLIII in 2006.

A similar incident occurred in late January when a 5-year-old boy receiving treatment in a hyperbaric chamber was killed after a fiery explosion inside the machine at a Michigan clinic.

Four staffers were charged with a mix of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges.
 
That's frightening, wow. RIP, that's a horrible way to die.

I always wished I had the money to own one but I didn't realize this risk existed. Athletes use them from time to time to speed up healing.
 
That's really awful. Especially a little child, but I don't get the staffers being charged with murder.
If, as they say, the grounding strap was not attached to the patient..a static charge could occur--and BOOM.


On the day of the explosion, investigators say a daily maintenance check was not performed and a pre-dive safety check was not conducted. Nessel said that no medical doctor or safety supervisor was present during the treatment and that the treatment was not performed by a licensed technician. Yearly inspections of the hyperbaric chamber, as recommended by the manufacturer, were reportedly not conducted, and an essential patient-worn grounding strap was not used.

The boy's mother was in the room at the time of the treatment and was injured in the explosion. Following the explosion, Troy police and fire departments did not indicate what may have led to the explosion, but said that hyperbaric chambers are filled with 100% oxygen and are, therefore, combustible devices.
 
If, as they say, the grounding strap was not attached to the patient..a static charge could occur--and BOOM.


On the day of the explosion, investigators say a daily maintenance check was not performed and a pre-dive safety check was not conducted. Nessel said that no medical doctor or safety supervisor was present during the treatment and that the treatment was not performed by a licensed technician. Yearly inspections of the hyperbaric chamber, as recommended by the manufacturer, were reportedly not conducted, and an essential patient-worn grounding strap was not used.

The boy's mother was in the room at the time of the treatment and was injured in the explosion. Following the explosion, Troy police and fire departments did not indicate what may have led to the explosion, but said that hyperbaric chambers are filled with 100% oxygen and are, therefore, combustible devices.


Also a clinic I checked out said its VERY important not to wear any metal objects, and they even make you change your clothes to wear a cotton gown. possibly evenn the clothing could have caused a static discharge??
 
Also a clinic I checked out said its VERY important not to wear any metal objects, and they even make you change your clothes to wear a cotton gown. possibly evenn the clothing could have caused a static discharge??
If not grounded..sure.
 
I think I'd pass putting myself into an explosive mixture and hoping there is no static electricity present.
 
I think I'd pass putting myself into an explosive mixture and hoping there is no static electricity present.
This is what happened to the Apollo 1 astronauts.
A flash fire in a pressurized pure oxygen environment.

Overview of the Apollo 1 Fire​

On January 27, 1967, a tragic fire occurred during a preflight test of the Apollo 1 spacecraft at Cape Kennedy's Launch Complex 34. The fire claimed the lives of three astronauts: Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee. The mission, originally designated AS-204, was intended to be the first crewed flight of the Apollo program, scheduled for launch on February 21, 1967.

Causes of the Fire​

Key Factors​

  • Ignition Source: The fire was ignited by an electrical fault within the command module.
  • Pure Oxygen Atmosphere: The cabin was pressurized with pure oxygen, which significantly increased the fire risk. This choice, while simplifying some technical aspects, made any ignition potentially catastrophic.
  • Flammable Materials: The command module contained combustible materials, including nylon, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

 
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