by Jim McLeod
Click ?? to 'jump' to the 'Emergency Assistance Plan'.
Click ?? to 'jump' to the Summary of the PADI Rescue Diver Manual
A First Aid course in handling injuries and illnesses is required for the more advanced scuba diving certifications. It is recommended that all divers (being a sport with potential risks) have been both CPR and First Aid trained.
First Aid & CPR training should include Diving Maladies, Marine Injuries, Emergency Procedures, Rescue Equipment, Panic Syndrome, Distress Recognition, Self-Rescue, Rescue Entries and Approaches, Use of Extensions and Floats, Assists, Transporting, Submerged Diver Rescue, Missing Diver Procedures, In-Water Artificial Respiration, Equipment Considerations, Rescue Exits, and Accident Recording and Reporting.
These skills and knowledge should be practiced and reviewed repeatedly so that they may be applied to an emergency situation.
All divers need to be confident & capable enough to feel comfortable in any emergency situation which may affect them. Self Competency lends credibility of a diver helping another diver. This knowledge & training increases confidence. And, confidence is an important factor when dealing with emergencies.
A well trained diver should be able to not only handle the fundamental skills of Establishing Buoyancy, Airway Control and Cramp Release, but, should additionally understand factors which may lead to Anxiety caused by deprivation of air supply, Vertigo and Stress.
Stress can either be Physiological or Psychological, or both. It is important to be able to recognize stress before it results in a Stress Response, without trying to 'play doctor'.
Physiological Stress can be caused by poor physical conditioning, illness (such as seasickness, flu or ), injury, lack of sleep, drugs or alcohol. Other examples are pain from injuries (muscle cramps), ill-fitted equipment (leaky masks) or cold water.
Psychological Stress can result from Physiological Stress. This is a diver's emotional stress, whether it is real or imaginary and if not attended to, it may lead to a Stress Response. Examples of Psychological Stress are peer pressure, task loading, diving an unknown area. A Stress Response may escalate from anxiety to panic.
A Panic situation can manifest itself differently in different divers. Panic could result in loss of awareness, or the ability to respond to a problem. An adrenaline release might increase the breathing rate thus leading to a carbon dioxide build up. Perceptual narrowing may result in an oblivious response to surroundings. As stress continues, it may also materialize as the jitters, a loss of motor functions and control. And, this may lead to exhaustion panic and finally requiring rescue or accident.
With ability to identify stress, a care-giver should be able to relieve the symptoms, whether physical or emotional. Solution thinking, when applied, can be briefly described as Stop, Think, then Act.
Background & Rescue Artwork has been 'borrowed' from Underwater Adventures of Cotati - (707) 795-6510.