Appropriate Diving Emergency Action

[GarethB]

Hi All

Having now decided that I am completely addicted to diving, it seems prudent to start understanding a little more about being a reponsible diver.

My main area of conern is that I am not familiar with the appropriate action to take in a suspected DCI case, within UK Water, both inland and at sea.

I have done a great deal of reading up, as I hope any responsible diver would, but would like the benefit of your experience in asking what is the appropriate action in a case like this. I'm not talking about first aid, that is what training is for, I'm talking about who do you call, 999? nearest chamber?, what information should you have at hand etc.

Ideally, I'd like to make out a "crib sheet" so that anyone, even with no experience, should be able to report in with the appropriate information to the appropriate people.

So, then, assuming all diving is in the uk,

who ya gonna call, and what you gonna tell them...

Gareth

[Dr Stevil]

Dial 999 ask for Coastguard, even if you're inland as they are the ones who are used to handling DCI and will alert the RAF. I'd also suggest you sign up for the O2 and diver rescue courses appropriate to whichever agency you are with.
Steve

[Finless]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Steve W @ Sep. 11 2003,13:59)]Dial 999 ask for Coastguard, even if you're inland as they are the ones who are used to handling DCI and will alert the RAF. I'd also suggest you sign up for the O2 and diver rescue courses appropriate to whichever agency you are with.
Steve

Seconded.  

[Darren27]

Have a look at the DDRC website,

DDRC web page

They have a very good downloadable A4 poster/flowchart which very simply give info on what to look for and what then to do.  I always have a copy on the dive marshall board when diving so anyone can easily find it.

The other thing to do is to program a few numbers into your mobile phone.

01752 209999 DDRC emergency helpline
07831 151523 Royal Navy 24 hr emergency diving doctor

01224 681818 Aberdeen Infirmary hyperbaric unit (use in Scotland only)
these numbers will put you intouch with someone who can help, often useful if symtoms appear sometime later and they can give good advice.  But if in a real emergency use 999 and the coastguard.  I have been told even to ask for the coast guard if diving inland eg stoney as they are used to dealing with diving emergencies and will call out any other services that are needed.

The other good thing to do is to take an O2 course, interesting and could save a life one day.

Darren

[Darren27]

Sorry the DDRC website is

www.ddrc.org

The emergency flowchart is here

DDRC Emergency Flowchart

Darren

[Chris Hall]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Darren27 @ Sep. 11 2003,14:22)]The other good thing to do is to take an O2 course, interesting and could save a life one day.

<font color='#728FCE'>Never a more true comment made. Did the course and then use O2 for real in a rescue of a hypoxic diver in N.Ireland

Time &amp; money spent on rescue training is definately not wasted.

Have printed the flow chart and going to laminate it, will also get copies of it to Diving &amp; Training Officers of my club, Hudds BSAC18.

[Mark Chase]

Am I out of date?

I thaught the recovery position for a concious DCI diver was flat on his / her back on the floor feet slightley elevated?

Looking at that flow chart that is a standard or unconcious position isnt it.

Mark Chase

[Tim Ingmire]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Mark Chase @ Sep. 11 2003,17:33)]Am I out of date?

I thaught the recovery position for a concious DCI diver was flat on his / her back on the floor feet slightley elevated?

Looking at that flow chart that is a standard or unconcious position isnt it.

Mark Chase

Hi Mark,

I think the legs elevated is for divers in shock. &nbsp;I made this same mistake during my Dive Leader exam. &nbsp;You should not elevate the legs in the case of DCI.

Tim

[Darren27]

If a diver was conscious then flat on the back on O2 would be my prefered option. &nbsp;However if the diver was unconscious then aswell as dealing with a bend you have to treat the other symtoms aswell. &nbsp;The recovery position gives the best support to a casualties airway and is easy to monitor their vital signs.

Either way avoid elevating any part of the body unless there is a pressing reason to do so, eg open wounds and serious loss of blood.

[Paul Oliver]

Timing

Or Burst Lung - remember the 2 conditions are treated the same and there is no real need to try and differentiate between them.

Raising the legs will increase the heart pump priming and is primerily for treating shock except where DCI is present.

When i did the O2 course i remember noteing that the legs were raised in all treatment except DCI and BL. Looking through my instructor notes it is not mentioned much at all now.

Regards

Paul