DIVING EMERGENCY & DIVING ACCIDENTS
Please undertake a full risk assessment at each dive site and from each dive boat prior to undertaking any dive. This needs to be individually, a buddy pair and the whole group.
The following advice is offered without prejudice:
The risk of Decompression Sickness (DCS) is one we all face, DAN produces excellent advice and tips for safer diving at www.daneurope.org
It is essential that you sleep well before each and every diving day, that your are well hydrated and that you plan your dive and dive that plan in such a way as to be conservative to your current level of training (or be under instruction for each and every furtherance of these).
Common Symptoms are Joint Pain, Numbness/Altered Sensation, Weakness, Tingling in the Extremities, Loss of Balance, Skin Rash, Visual Disturbances, Nausea, Undue Fatigue.. If you have any concerns and want advice the DDRC can be contacted on 01752 209999, alternatively if you are in no doubt then use the emergency contact details below.
If you suspect someone has or suspect you have DCS, then speedy medical help is essential. It is very important to get to a diving medical doctor who can arrange your hyperbaric treatment fast – ideally within an hour for conscious sick patients and less than a quarter of an hour for unconscious patients. If the patient is conscious and able to swallow without difficulty then administer 1L of water in sips – if available – with the addition of Oral Rehydration powders in this 1L (such as Dioralyte). If a paramedic can be to hand fast then the early administration of IV fluids is considered highly beneficial.
It is essential to administer 100% Oxygen without any breaks (other than the fluids and such breaks should be kept to a minimum) and such supply of 100% Oxygen should not be stopped. If you have no other choice use a rebreather set to deliver 100%, then deco gas in decending order of concentration as supply permits. Avoid at all costs the patient breathing air again unless you have no other choice.
- Keep the casualty lying down (surpine)
- Give them 100% Oxygen via a tight fitting mask
- Give non alcoholic, non caffeine fluids – aim at giving 1L (ideally with Oral Rehydrate) - if possible
- Keep the Patient comfortably cool
DIAL 999 or 112 on any public phone or cell phone within the UK. Ask for Ambulance Service and state that this is a DIVER Emergency – be sure to know your exact location, the divers personal details, the Gas the diver was using, the nature of the divers injuries and dive profile for the last 48 hrs (if possible).
On a ship ask the skipper/cox to call on channel 16 – a PAN PAN PAN DIVER Emergency, the coast guard will then advise on possible air lift and air lift procedures. Be sure to know your exact location, the divers personal details, the Gas the diver was using, the nature of the divers injuries and dive profile for the last 48 hrs (if possible).
Hyperbaric treatment can be arranged as a DAN Member using the diving emergency world wide number 0039 06 4211 8685 or in the UK on 0870 871 9999 - 24hrs a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. DAN Members can get medical advice on 0870 872 8888 (a diving medical doctor will answer the phone).
Or Hyperbaric treatment can be arranged in the UK by contacting the NAVAL Medical Services on the cell phone 07831 151523 - 24hrs a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. In Scotland call Aberdeen Royal infirmary 0845 408 6008 again this is 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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