I was lent a RESCUEAN Pod for my trip to France. Essentially it is a constant flow device you can connect to a low pressure hose (BCD/drysuit hose) at one end and a breathing mask at the other. Or to put it another way you can turn a bottle of oxygen and a regular scuba diving regulator into an oxygen kit.

It appears it has been designed for divers using Nitrox as a stop gap between mouth to mouth and a proper O2 kit but I see no reason why it couldn’t be used with pure oxygen as an alternative to a dedicated O2 kit. I often have O2 with me but not usually a dedicated O2 kit and here is something small which can be used to provide that option.

The device is very easy to use and self explanatory so there was no need to read the instructions. Anyone with a basic grasp of the concept could assemble the kit and

provide oxygen to a diver in an emergency. It comes with two flow rates – 15 and 25ltrs per minute which suit most needs without giving unnecessary options.

I was impressed how light, compact and durable the kit is, it is certainly feasible that it could be transported underground to a remote site either in an emergency or as a precaution. You can also dive with the kit as it doesn’t contain any sealed air spaces. There would be little need to worry about packaging it carefully for a trip underground as both the connectors and well protected and covered with rubber caps.

Not so long ago I received an email regarding advice for cave rescue scenarios involving DCI which highlighted the importance of oxygen. I wonder if the RESCUEAN Pod, a standard scuba regulator and a standard scuba cylinder with O2 would be a better alternative to an ‘oxygen kit’ – at just over £100 for the pod, similar for a normal first stage and whatever else for a cylinder I suspect it might be a cheaper more robust and more flexible alternative.