On behalf of the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine, I would like to express our horror at the situation caused by the Russian Federation's unprecedented military aggression towards Ukraine. This is not only a threat to the security of Ukraine and the safety of its people. It is also a threat to Ukraine's prosperous democratic, economic and scientific development, to the rules-based international order, and to the security of Europe as a whole.
We, the members of the truly international European organisation, express our undivided solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
Jacek Kot, ECHM President
(updated on 21st May 2020)
As the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, while not over, seems to allow a gradual return to normal economic and recreational activities, including recreational and professional diving, EUBS and ECHM now issue an official Position Statement on the return to diving activities and the implications of SARS-CoV2 infection or possibility of contamination (dated 21st May 2020). It can be downloaded in
English, as well as in
German,
Greek,
Italian and Polish.
(updated on 1st March 2022)
In response to the current and ongoing COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the ECHM and EUBS have jointly issued a new Position Statement on the use of HBOT as a treatment for COVID-19 patients. This Statement (dated 30th April 2020) complements our previous Position Statement on 'Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in multiplace hyperbaric chambers during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (dated 16th April 2020)', which remains fully valid. It can be downloaded in
English, as well as in
Czech,
German,
Greek,
Italian,
Polish,
Portuguese,
Spanish, and
Turkish.
(updated on 10th May 2020)
As the COVID-19 pandemic impacts not only the general healthcare system but also ambulance and first aid providers, there is a general agreement that risk-taking activities and sports should take this situation into account. EUBS and ECHM now issue an official Position Statement on the advisability of (recreational and professional) diving activities and the performance of Diving Medical Eexaminations in this current time period. It can be downloaded in English, as well as in German, Greek,
Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.
(updated on 30th March 2020)
Facing the epidemiological situation in Europe and worldwide due to coronavirus, we decided to prepare the ECHM position about using HBOT in multiplace chambers in regions where there is the high rate of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. It can be downloaded in English, and also in Croatian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish.
(updated on 20th March 2020)
The 10th ECHM
Consensus Conference on Hyperbaric Medicine was held on April 15th-16th, 2016 in Lille, France. Chairman: Prof. Daniel Mathieu. The full text of the ECHM recommendations for accepted and non-accepted clinical indications and practice of HBOT has been just published in the March 2017 issue of the Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Journal and it can be downloaded here.
(updated on 19th June 2017)
It is now time to update the European Code of Good Practice for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which was published for the first time in May 2004 (it can be downloaded here). The process of updating has just started and request for comments has been already sent to all European representatives working actively in this field. It is expected to have the final agreed version before the end of 2017. If you are interested in participation in this process, please contact General Secretary - Jacek Kot (office@echm.org).