Orange Beach accident 11/11/06

[seadoggirl]

Okay. I am posting this message under the true spirit of this forum which is to relate learning experiences. The Lord knows we had one of those yesterday diving out of Orange Beach Alabama. I will be as honest as possible but please don't be mean and hateful and Monday morning quarterback.

We started out of Orange Beach with six divers on the boat. We had two new divers (less than 20 dives), two experience divers (one a master), a commercial diver (13 years of experience) and the boat captain who has 30 years dive experience. We had four divers with spearguns, six total in the water. We were on a six pack boat. The day started out nice with sun and 1-2 seas. The first dive was a 106 foot dive for 26 minutes. Everyone came up okay and were a little disappointed by the lack of fish and the extremely low vis (10 ft). Once we were down for a short time the vis was zero from all the movement by divers.

Before the second dive the commercial diver who is the son of the boat captain noticed that his BC was not connected to the auto-inflate hose. He understood that he would need to manually inflate his BC. (First issue faulty equipment). The second dive I went down first with the commerical diver with guns. The other four divers were right behind us. We all were shooting fish but the vis had gone to zero with all the movement. I looked down and was diamonded up and needing to go to the surface. The second dive was at 109 foot for 20 minutes (Second issue reverse profile and border line DECO). Two deep dives. The surface interval was 1 hour 28 minutes. We all got separated from the commerical diver and everyone surfaced except him. (Third issue leaving your buddy). Five divers got on the boat and we were looking for the sixth diver (commerical diver). He hit the surface about 200 yards off the back of the boat screaming for help. We got him to the boat and he said that he had run completely out of air at 96 feet and blasted to the surface (Fourth issue not checking your gauges). Once on the boat the distressed diver began complaining of shortness of breath, ear pressure, sick stomach, joint pain in his elbows. By this time the weather had changed dramatically and the seas were 4-5 ft. We were 17 miles off shore but started in. (Fifth issue not watching the weather change). We began to slowly work our way in because the distressed diver stating he would be okay. As his situation got worse we made the decision to run in. The waves were horrible and we were all getting beat up badly. The diver would not listen to me (I'm the only one who had taken Stress and Rescue class) because he stated I am a Human Resource Manager and what do I know. He continued to try to call his supervisor at the commercial dive shop for advice but we were outside of cell phone coverage at 17 miles. I got him covered up but he would not lay flat or go into the cabin. (Sixth issue not listening when you are the distressed diver). As the symptoms got worse, we continued to try to call on the cell phones. (seventh issue - the radio on the boat was broken and we could receive calls but not be heard) As cell phone cover came in and out we were able to get to 911 and they understood we had a distressed diver but had no details because we could only get a few words in before we lost cover again. At this point one motor quit (due to running in 5 foot seas at 23 knots). We were able to stop shortly and get them going again. We could not get cell coverage until we were about 5 miles off shore. The commercial diver got his supervisor which told him to lay down and get on O2 ASAP. The distressed diver had been fighting us all along about calling 911. We were able to also get 911 and explain the situation when we were 5 miles off. They informed us that Marine police would meet us at Perdido pass and to go in at full speed with escort. We arrived at the dock and was boarded by the emergency personnel who immediately started O2. Life Flight arrived immediately and the distressed diver was transported to Springhill in Mobile to the Chamber. Once he got O2, the symptoms lessen except for the ear pressure which was causing major headaches. One very important issue is that this was a commerical diver whose job if not his life depends on his recovery.

After 3 hours in the Chamber the diver was cleared to dive again. So all that ends well is well.

As you can see if was crazy bad all the way around. The lessons that we learned are these:
1. Don't dive with faulty equipment. If his BC would have been properly set up he would have been better at the surface.
2. No fish is worth your life. The diver stated this morning that he had checked his air after his first shot and had 1000 PSI. When he shot again, fighting the second fish, He was out. He stated he had found a "honey hole" and wasn't paying attention.
3. Have proper communication equipment on the boat. Fix the radio
4. Don't leave your buddy even in bad vis.
5. If you are the distressed diver, shut up and listen to those on the boat who are trying to take care of your @#$!
6. Always get the dive profile for the emergency personnel. This was the first question they asked and we had already pulled computers to check it. Also get the age and birth date of the distressed diver. They also wanted medical history. Keep the distressed diver talking and awake.
7. Get the distressed diver warm, flat and hydrated. Clock him in the face if he doesn't listen!
8. If you are diving a six pack get O2 on board. It is worth the money.
9. Update your first aid kit. The normal kit does not work for divers. Add alcohol for ears and pain medicine. We are also adding decognestant.
10. Don't listen to the distressed diver when he says don't call 911. By the emergency personnel being available and ready this commerical diver will continue his career and his life.

We learned a new term yesterday from the doctors at Springhill - DAS - Dead at Surface! Not a good term to have explained under the circumstance.

[seadoggirl]

ALSO... everybody quit making fun of SSI and PADI specialty classes. SSI's Stress and Rescue class through Chas Broughton at Underwater Works, Fairhope Alabama made the difference in this situation. If you dive, keep learning!

[Doc Intrepid]

Thank you for sharing.

That must have been upsetting. It sounds like a complete cluster.

You've done a good job of identifying some important lessons-learned.

One thing to emphasize would be the benefit of O2 for any diver who may be suffering even borderline DCI. You may want to consider revising your lesson #8 to read that any time you're planning on making two dives to depths greater than 100', you'd better have O2 and a gas plan that allows you to conduct a safety stop (or plan decompression stops using software such as V-Planner). It's a sure bet that repetitive dives to depths in excess of 100' are likely to result in significant gas loading.

Hope the lessons you've come away with make your next spearfishing dive trip not nearly as exciting...

Regards,

Doc

[Jim Lapenta]

Good point with number 5. If that does not work a good slap upside the head may be needed per #7! Said diver should be informed that this is an option. Said diver sounds like despite the fact he is a commercial diver a good rescue class may do him and his attitude some good.

[TwoBitTxn]

Arrogance kills people every day. He's lucky to still be alive.

Sounds like you all did a great job. Some really great lessons learned there.

I don't encourage slapping injured people around to get them to listen. It generally doesn't work.

I have seen a whole bunch of people say that rescue is one of the best courses you can take. I have never seen anyone put it down.

TwoBit

[ArcticDiver]

Thanks for your post. It is exactly this kind of blunt reporting we can all learn from.

One comment though: Don't "clock" your patient to get his attention. He, and everyone else who is mentally capable, has the right to make their own treatment decisions; even if they will result in a less than optimal outcome.

[rookers]

Pain medication is contraindicated in most cases of DCS/DCI. It is especially contraindicated in type II DCS (CNS involvement).

[seadoggirl]

Additionally as the day goes on you think of other issues. He also reported that he was really hot at one point. Burning up. I didn't know what to do. His feet were freezing! I need to call DAN tomorrow to find out what the hot flash was about. I talked to a nurse friend today she said that it was shock. I'll call DAN with 3 questions tomorrow. I thought I was ready for this but I was no where near ready. Live and learn. I called the guy who was my stress and rescue instructor today and told him that I think he rocks. Keep learning. Read those mag's about diving no matter how much you think you know. Commerical Diver's dad and I have spend the entire day second quessing ourselves about every minute. We did the best we could. thank god for his blessings. Commerical Diver is the father of 3 young children.

[TwoBitTxn]

Temperature inversion can be a symptom of DCS.

[FredT]

A very basic rule when chartering on 6 packs is to see if they have O2 and fully functioning radios. If no O2 lives on the boat bring your own, enough for 2 divers all the way to the chamber. If the radio is broke either bring your own or stay on the beach!

FT