What is the immediate action for diver symptoms of decompression sickness?

When a diver exhibits symptoms of decompression sickness, the most appropriate immediate action is to recompress the diver to a depth of 60 feet of seawater (fsw) and administer oxygen. This approach is based on the principles of treating decompression sickness, which involves alleviating the symptoms by reducing the size of nitrogen bubbles that may have formed in the diver's body due to rapid ascent or inadequate decompression.

Recompression at a designated depth helps to increase the ambient pressure, facilitating the reabsorption of the nitrogen bubbles back into the bloodstream and subsequently allowing the body to eliminate this excess nitrogen more effectively. Administering oxygen further aids the recovery process as it enhances the elimination of nitrogen from the body and can help to alleviate hypoxia and support tissue healing.

In contrast, the other approaches listed do not provide the immediate and effective intervention necessary for managing decompression sickness. Administering IV fluids can be supportive but is not a primary treatment. Performing a safety stop may be beneficial in normal ascent procedures but does not address acute symptoms. Ascending slowly to the surface, while generally a good practice in diving, is not suitable in an emergency situation where decompression sickness is present, as it can worsen the condition. Thus, recompression followed by