to treat more than just divers.

Dr. Carol Ferris explained that the new $240,000 hyperbaric tank, already installed at KEMH, is much larger than the old tank.

She told a story about a rather large man suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning that doctors and attendants struggled to get into the old hyperbaric chamber.

As a result they decided bigger and better was the way to go.

"We went for a bigger and better tank,'' Dr. Ferris said. "It's 22 feet long, 20 feet in diameter and can seat eight patients and one attendant in the main lock.'' She went on to explain that people inside the chamber receive 100 percent oxygen.

This allows the oxygen to quickly be absorbed by the blood stream. Once absorbed by the blood, it reaches the damaged parts of the body more quickly and begins the healing process.

Dr. Ferris believes traffic accident victims, diabetics and patients who have had radiation treatments or do not want blood or blood products to be used will all benefit from the new chamber.

She also told about new research which shows hyperbaric medicine may help heart attack and stroke victims to recover more quickly.