What to Wear and Bring to a Hyperbaric Chamber Session (and What to Leave Outside)

At Generations Wellness you are treated in a hard-shell monoplace chamber, breathing medical-grade oxygen at the pressure your physician prescribes. Monoplace chambers are pressurized with oxygen, so the space around you is far richer in oxygen than ordinary room air.

Fire needs three things: fuel, heat and oxygen. A chamber supplies plenty of the third, so safety depends on keeping the other two out. That is why the rules focus on:

• Sparks and heat. Electronics, batteries and anything that can create static or a spark are ignition sources.
• Fuel. Petroleum-based products, cosmetics, perfumes, hairspray and lotions can burn readily in high oxygen.
• Fabrics. Cotton is used because it is less prone to static than many synthetic fabrics.

Hyperbaric facilities follow the fire-safety rules in NFPA 99, the Health Care Facilities Code, which has a chapter dedicated to hyperbaric chambers. Chamber fires are very uncommon precisely because these rules are followed every time. The FDA lists fire among the risks of hyperbaric treatment, which is why no exception is made. See our fire-safety procedures and standards.

Can I bring my phone into a hyperbaric chamber?

No. Phones, smartwatches, earbuds, tablets and e-readers all contain batteries and circuitry that can spark. They stay outside the chamber with our staff for the whole session.

Can I wear jewelry, a watch or piercings?

No. Jewelry and watches stay outside the chamber with our staff. It is simplest to leave valuables at home on session days. If you have a piercing that is hard to remove, mention it at your assessment.

Can I wear makeup, lotion, deodorant or perfume?

Plan to arrive with clean skin and hair. No petroleum-based products, cosmetics, perfume, hairspray or lotion inside the chamber. That includes things people often forget, such as lip balm, hair gel and scented body sprays. If you are unsure whether a specific product such as a deodorant is acceptable, ask the team rather than guessing.

Can I wear glasses or contact lenses?

Ask the team at your assessment. Policies on eyewear vary between centers, and the answer can depend on the frame material and lens type. If you rely on glasses to see, tell us so we can plan around it.

Can I wear hearing aids?

Hearing aids are electronic devices with batteries, so plan for them to stay outside the chamber. If you depend on them to communicate, tell us beforehand so the team can make sure you can hear them during the session.

Can I keep my dentures in?

Ask the team. Mention dentures, partials and any dental work in progress at your assessment, since pressure changes can occasionally affect teeth with loose fillings.

What about lighters, vapes, matches and hand warmers?

Never. These are direct ignition or heat sources and must not go anywhere near the chamber. Leave them at home or in your car.

Can I keep my CGM, insulin pump or pacemaker?

It depends on the device. Most implanted devices withstand chamber pressure, but published guidance recommends confirming with the manufacturer. Wearable devices such as continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps also contain electronics, so they need to be discussed before your first session. Bring your device card or model information to your assessment, and never remove an insulin pump without a plan from your diabetes care team. See pacemakers and implanted devices and tell us about your device in advance.

Can I read or watch TV during the session?

Paper and electronics are both potential fire concerns, and what is allowed varies by center. Ask the team what you can use to pass the time. Many people simply rest or nap.

Can I bring water or a snack into the chamber?

Plan to eat and drink before and after your session rather than inside. Ask the team if you have a medical reason to need something during a session.

• Eat normally. Have your usual meal before a session unless your physician tells you otherwise. A long session on an empty stomach is uncomfortable, and for people with diabetes it matters more.
• Coffee. Ask your physician whether your usual coffee or tea is fine for you on session days.
• Medications. Keep taking your regular medications unless your physician says otherwise. Tell the team about any new prescription before your next session, because a few medicines, such as disulfiram and certain chemotherapy drugs, matter under pressure.
• Smoking and vaping. Never bring lighters or vapes near the chamber. If you smoke, talk to your physician about it during your course.
• Feeling unwell. If you have a cold, fever or congestion, call before you come. See clearing your ears and why congestion matters.