DEMA Show Update #2
Today we went to a very informative seminar put on by Divers Alert Network, entitled: Diving Emergencies: Planning Versus Improvisation with the presenter being Dr. Mathias Nocheto, one of the DAN diving physicians. During his talk, Dr. Nocheto brought forward some important topics for discussion that should be part of every divers safety planning, including having an Emergency Action Plan or EAP.
He started out by talking about what constitutes a diving emergency….things like DCI, possible gas embolism, near drowning and submersion incidents. The he went on to discuss possible reactions to these issues. The discussion really boiled down to some very important facts…for example, he stated that you as the rescuer should decide what constitutes an emergency and what conditions require activating your Emergency Action Plan.
The seminar then went on to discuss what should be part of your EAP, such as what to do in the case of diving incidents, non-diving incidents and what to do in the case of a missing diver. Dr. Nocheto then added that we as divers should also think about what evacuation resources exist, like is there EMS readily available? How is that evacuation resource activated? What other medical resources exist in the area, such as Hospital Emergency Rooms, Urgent Care Clinics, hyperbaric chambers and physicians trained in hyperbaric medicine.
Other things to review: knowing any local hazards, such as are there any marine animals that could cause an injury, is there any current or surge typically present, could there be any entanglement or entrapment hazards, or is there a culture of unsafe diving practices in the area? Do you have a first aid kit with supplies appropriate for the local area? Do you have oxygen available and if so, are you trained in ho it should be used?
So for all you Rescue Divers out there…take a moment to review your own EAPs for wherever you dive, and if you don’t have one, now is the time to get one started. Talk it over with your dive buddies and even your non-diving “shore support” who accompany you on your dive excursions before the local dive season starts again next spring. And of course, get trained in CPR, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration.
If you’d like more information on diving medicine and safety, DAN has some great online educational resources available to you as a diver. Some have a small fee associated with them, while others are free. You can access them HERE