For decades now, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has been implemented for the treatment of conditions such as decompression sickness (the bends), carbon monoxide poisoning, arterial gas embolism, wound care, and a host of other medical conditions. HBOT has consistently proven to be an effective treatment, yet remains an underutilized therapy in mainstream medicine. As more research is completed over time, the beneficial effects of HBOT on patients who have suffered from any number of diseases or injuries has become harder to ignore.
Our group has seen first-hand the beneficial effects of HBOT on stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, wound care, and other conditions. Our purpose is to share our stories and spread the word that HBOT has a horizon of benefits yet to be recognized by the medical community.
Currently, there has been little legislation allowing financial coverage for the use of HBOT in treating neurological injuries. As a result, families full of hope find themselves financially unable to seek this therapy. We intend to change that.
The mission of the American Association for Hyperbaric Awareness is to:
1. Advance the understanding of hyperbaric oxygen therapy by bringing together professionals and scientists of diverse backgrounds, by facilitating the integration of research directed at all levels of organization, and by encouraging translational research and the application of new scientific knowledge to develop improved disease treatments and cures.
2. Provide professional development activities, information, and educational resources for the public as well as medical professionals at all stages of their careers, including undergraduates, graduates, and post doctoral fellows, and increase participation of members and the medical providers from a diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
3. Promote public information and general education about the nature of scientific discovery and the results and implications of the latest hyperbaric research. Support active and continuing discussions on ethical issues relating to the conduct and outcomes of hyperbaric medical research.
4. Inform legislators and other policy makers about new scientific knowledge and recent developments in hyperbaric medical research and their implications for public policy, societal benefit, and continued scientific progress.
