The reason the damage isn't as extreme as in going from depth is that the pressure difference as said isn't that big. Go down 38 feet into water..congradulations, you've just doubled the pressure. Going from here to the surface is very similar to going from the surface to space.
It's not going to be a pleasurable experience, but Fyron is exaggerating.
"If you don't try to hold your breath, exposure to space for half a minute or so is unlikely to produce permanent injury."
This is confirmed with experimental animals.
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/as...rs/970603.html