Should there be an O2 set on Dive Charter Boats?

[David Wallace]

Originally Posted by yellow butty box

back to your origional statment of it "would'nt happen to me because i inform the coastguard when i put someone on 02" isn,t really true cos if they didn't air vac you'd be stuck with him possibly looking for a second dive like the cheeky bugger i had.
cheers elfyn

Doubt it, in every case I have had where no air lift was involved, the medical advice has been not to dive for 48 hours. They can ask but I wont let them dive following that advice

regards

[David Wallace]

Originally Posted by RubberBoy

We want pictures to see if they live up to the hype before booking.

I couldnt disclose the pics I have, so as I'm off to see her this evening - I am packing the digital now

[Andy the Coastie]

Wanna but some ?


http://www.taurusdiving.co.uk/female...ockingonly.com

[Mr T.]

*bump*

[Hazel W]

This is a great thread ...
As an owner / skipper there are a few comments in here that have had me cheering on the benches but id like to add my tuppenceworth

Firstly just to mention that the Orkney dive boat operators association has long had o2 as required equipment for members.
secondly as most of the boats here supply on board nitrox extra o2 is readily available .
I have on a number of occasions been in the position of administering to suspected or confirmed dcs and as a matter of course alert the mca who put our local medical services on standby. where o2 is used as a precaution after a rapid accent etc we have been advised to not alert the coastguard until an actual dci is suspected.
My opinion on the origional question of whether o2 should be mandatory on charter boats ...its a tricky one i agree with andy that over regulation will damage our pleasure as divers and our business as charter operators but i also think that a skipper who dosnt carry an o2 kit is being irresponsible and dosnt truly care about both his or her reputation or the divers who are in his or her care (while they are traveling in the "taxi").
on the question of crew: ... oh my god lets not go there ..... getting reliable qualified crew is next to impossible .... and costs a fortune but on the positive side ... i qualify most of the way on the bird score ( * ) ( * )


hAZEL

[David Wallace]

Hi Hazel,

Nice to see a operation running professionally!

Interesting as wel that the MCA in your area take a different standpoint on calling them if O2 is used........
Have you got their request in writing and does it contain any medical guidelines?
I'm a bit unclear on the difference in precautionary o2 and a suspected DCI
Could you elaberate a little on this? surely, if something has happened on a dive which would lead you to giving o2 as a precation, this would by definition suggest that their could be a suspected DCI?

Whats your insurence companies standpoint on this?
are they happy for you to give o2 as a precation and then make the decision to cease administering the o2?
On what basis do you decide that o2 is no longer required?
What medical qualifications do you hold which qualifies you to make this decision?

Sorry, this is not supposed to be antaganistic post, just all the questions which ran through my mind when reading your post

kind regards

Originally Posted by divebiatch

This is a great thread ...
As an owner / skipper there are a few comments in here that have had me cheering on the benches but id like to add my tuppenceworth

Firstly just to mention that the Orkney dive boat operators association has long had o2 as required equipment for members.
secondly as most of the boats here supply on board nitrox extra o2 is readily available .
I have on a number of occasions been in the position of administering to suspected or confirmed dcs and as a matter of course alert the mca who put our local medical services on standby. where o2 is used as a precaution after a rapid accent etc we have been advised to not alert the coastguard until an actual dci is suspected.
My opinion on the origional question of whether o2 should be mandatory on charter boats ...its a tricky one i agree with andy that over regulation will damage our pleasure as divers and our business as charter operators but i also think that a skipper who dosnt carry an o2 kit is being irresponsible and dosnt truly care about both his or her reputation or the divers who are in his or her care (while they are traveling in the "taxi").
on the question of crew: ... oh my god lets not go there ..... getting reliable qualified crew is next to impossible .... and costs a fortune but on the positive side ... i qualify most of the way on the bird score ( * ) ( * )


hAZEL

[Andy the Coastie]

Welcome aboard to YD firstly......

Wowwwww a lady skipper, well if you can command a ship, wanna stand for the BSAC chairpersons job ?

Just for the record,,,,

O2 on FLOW
RADIO i GO

If O2 is being administered, then the Coastguard are informed by VHF RADIO, at least that way , it's all taped ,,, for thoses just in case moments.


Andy

[Mark Chase]

I am a bit late into this one and I have only read page 1 & 2 so sorry if I re-hash stuff.


Firstly I fully support Dave's approach (and the fact) that boats are water taxies. This IS what they are and we shouldn’t push for more because if we did the cost of their insurance would sky rocket and either they would shut down or we would end up paying £60 for a dive. Eather way it would be a bad thing.

However......

Divers should not dive without 02 being available on the surface end of story. The option of going on to 02 following decompression incident WILL reduce the damage and may save lives.

I always have a rich 80% or 100% bottle on the boat and now have the option of 100% CCR. Unfortunately this is only any good if I am conscious. If I am unconscious I rely on the skipper to have an active supply 02 kit.

Divers should pay for using the skippers 02. I am pretty sure that the skipper wont be rifling the pockets of a diver as he / she is stretchered away but it is only right that a diver who THINKS he/she MIGHT be bent and sits sucking 02 for a while pays for the privilege. I DO NOT accept the argument that having to pay for it will put people off. Diving is expensive and if you can afford to be on the boat and you THINK you might be bent you will pay.

The skippers should be emergency medical trained in the basics and 02 administrations. This is because they are carrying fair paying customers but unlike normal taxi drivers the ambulance is not within 10mins of getting to the stricken person. It is more like on an airplane where the stewards are trained in basic first aid and 02 admin

Skippers can not expect divers to bring their own 02. 12 divers on the boat are often individual divers not a club. As a result the skippers are not going to like it when 12 divers turn up with 12 twin sets 24 stages and 12/02 kits.
I for one want MY 02 kit on the boat and it’s for ME unless I am safely back on the boat.

So the argument is that the Skipper should be First Aid and 02 trained? If this means big increases in insurance then perhaps we should be looking at this from another angle. Perhaps First Aid CPR and 02 admin should be prerequisite training for any and all individual divers allowed to go out on a charter boat. Would it then be possible for the skipper to provide facility for 02 admin without the liability for its administration?

Clubs booking a charter boat will have to provide non-diving surface cover. (This is what Girl Grey requires)

As for quantity of 02? Enough to get two divers (a buddy pair in trouble is often the case) on to 02 long enough for the transfer to the helicopter in the worst-case scenario. A 12 would be ample and a 7 would probably do.

It all comes back to my core arguments in diving. Its dangerous and every diver should be prepared to take care of him/her self at all times. Reliance on another is a cop out. I don’t dive on boats without 02. I ask if they have 02 when I book and I more often than not take my own any way.

Finally as encouragement to the skippers... I used to dive with Girl Grey a lot. I like the boat and I respect and like the skipper. I don’t dive with him any more because of the demand for surface cover. I can’t find anyone willing to do the job.

ATB

Mark Chase