What two steps do you apply to recognise stress in a diver?
- Direct observation - look for behavioural changes and physical stress signs
- Ask the diver
What should you do when you recognise diver stress?
Attempt to guide the diver through solution thinking:
- Problem recognition
- Plan of action formulated
- Plan successfully implemented
- Problem minimised or eliminated
What are the two basic types of alternate air sources?
- Those that allow buddies to share air from the same cylinder
- Those that are entirely independent air supplies that permit self-resuce
What three points does the dive community generally agree upon regarding alternate air sources?
- The second stage the out-of-air diver should use should be clearly indentified
- It should not be allowed to dangle
- It should be secured in the triangle formed by your shin and the corners of your rib cage
What are six general causes of equipment-related problems?
- The diver uses unfamiliar or specialised eqiupment without learning to use it properly first
- The diver uses equipment that doesn’t fit properly
- The diver substitutes makeshift, homemade or obsolete equipment for standard equipment
- The diver lacks essential equipment for the dive environment, or uses the wrong equipment
- The diver severely modifies the equipment
- The diver doesn’t properly maintain and inspect the equipment
What are six types of releases commonly found in scuba systems and what problems may they have?
- Quick release buckle
- commonly on weight belts, works by biting into the nylon webbing
- problems: the buckle doesn’t hold due to a broken buckle or misalignment; loss of weight belt causes an uncontrolled ascent
- Quick disconnect fasteners
- release easily by squeezing them
- problems: become less reliable with heavy wear, and too much strain may cause one to pop free
- Touch fasteners (velcro)
- join fabric to fabric, used to take up slack when you adjust nylon webbing
- problems: they wear out, and can get clogged with sand and lint
- Cylinder band releases
- problems: not threaded or adjusted properly, nylon stretches when wet
- Inflator quick disconnect
- problems: failure to connect it properly before the dive, inflators leaks and inflates BCD
- Integrated weight release
- problems: buddies don’t know how to work each other’s systems
What are the three types of aquatic life injuries?
- bites
- cuts/abrasions/punctures
- stings (venomations)
What first aid step do all aquatic life injuries have in commmon?
Begin with primary assessment
What are the first aid for bites, and for cuts, abrasions and punctures?
Bites:
- same first aid as for a similar sized wound caused by something else
- with a shark bite, your primary concern will be blood loss, and first aid will focus on controlling bleeding, managing shock and basic life support
Cuts/abrasions/punctures:
- same first aid as for a similar sized wound caused by something else
- sea urchin injuries may be difficult due to a fully imbedded spine, and punctures may be prone to infection, so it is wise to have a physician examine and treat it
What five signs and symptoms indicate venomous aquatic life injuries?
- excruciating pain
- local swelling, inflammation and tentacles or welts on the affected area
- weakness, nausea, shock, unconsciousness and confusion
- a spreading numbness or paralysis, or convulsions
- respiratory and cardiac arrest
What is the basic first aid for venomous injuries?
- Primary assessment
- Remove spines/stingers/tentacles using forceps or by irrigating the wound
- Apply pressure to the injury for: sea snake bites, cone shell, blue ringed octopus, sea wasp (box jellyfish)
- Immerse in hot water for: stonefish/scorpionfish, stingray, fish spines
- Use vinegar, sprays, ointments or ice for: jellyfish
- Use antivenom for: sea snake, sea wasp (box jellyfish), stonefish
- Any injury may require basic life support and CPR
What are the techniques and considerations for responding to a responsive diver at the surface from a distance?
- What equipment do you need to take? Usually your mask, fins, snorkel and a flotation device
- What’s the most effective way to enter the water? Enter as close as possible in a manner that keeps the victim in view
- Don’t lose sight of the victim, have spotters if possible to watch and point to the diver
- Swim with your head up and eyes on the victim
- Be prepared for a quick reverse if the diver reaches and struggles toward you
What is the advantage of using emergency flotation when assisting a responsive diver at the surface?
It simplifies the resuce by providing immediate buoyancy and allows you to avoid contact with a potentially panicked diver.
What are the procedures for approaching, evaluating and helping more than one responsive diver in the water?
- Look for ways to use a non-swimming assist
- Bring emergency flotation
- Determine which diver needs the most help, give the flotation to that diver first; if it solves the immediate threat and stabilises the situation, assist the next diver
- To separate two panicked divers, approach from underwater or behind, inflate their BCDs and/or drop their weights
- If handling more than one panicked diver presents unacceptable risk, stay clear until one or more exhaust themselves
What factors should you consider when removing equipment from a distressed diver?
- How far do you have to go?
- What is the environment like?
- What’s the victim’s condition?
What are the general criteria for tows used to transport a distressed diver in the water?
- The tow keeps the diver’s face out of the water
- The tow reduces drag by letting you and the tired diver move through the water horizontally
- The tow gives you control
- The tow doesn’t restrict your swimming
- The tow allows you to communicate with the tired diver, preferably with eye-to-eye contact so you can continue to reassure the diver as you swim
Describe the following tows:
- Underarm tow
- Modified tired swimmer’s carry
- Cylinder valve tow
- Underarm tow: grasp the tired diver under the arm and swim to saftey while your face remains close to the diver’s (good for a short swim, maintains eye contact)
- Modified tired swimmer’s carry: with the diver floating face up in the water, put the diver’s feet on your shoulders and grasp at or above the knees as you swim, pushing the diver to saftey (has some eye contact, good for a long swim)
- Cylinder valve tow: grab the diver’s cylinder valve and swim the diver face up (fast but has no eye contact, good for a long swim once a victim settles)
What should you consider when helping a distressed diver exit the water?
- what the exit terrain is like
- the surface conditions
- whether the victim needs medical assistance and where that assistance may be
- how tired you and the diver are
What three concerns do you need to handle with a responsive diver once you get on the boat or shore?
- Assess the diver for injury or illnes
- Contact EMS if required
- Be sensitive to the diver’s feelings regarding the incident
