A real rescue course - very close near miss

[MOFROG]

KathyDee! Thank you for sharing your experience. He was very lucky to have Rescue divers available in the area! Many factors could have played a roll in his accident. You mentioned Diving within your limitations? Experience and training, physical condition. Many accidents can be avoided by merely Stop- Think- and then Act. Number one rule in Scuba diving is to never hold your breath.
I commend you on your efforts to gain more knowledge through advanced classes.

Great job!
Ron

 

[MOFROG]

I have seen a few students get passed on cources that they were really not up to par.
Eather physically not capable or fail to understand the rules for Safe diving practices and theory.
I would have thought that the IDC that the Instructor took would have given him the tools that he needed . Bending the rules for profit , when someones life is at stake, is unconciviable to me!
Iam up to AI. The more I dive, the more comfortable Iam. The more I help teach, the more confident I become. Rescue was one of my favorite classes. I have made two saves so far.
Great job Kathydeee!

 

[shawrg]

KathyDee,

I just came across this today and wanted to tell you it is a great thread! Many of the ones I’ve read over the past few years have been mostly forgettable. This one will be in my memory for a long time and will be a continuing inspiration. All of the responders in this story are true heroes. Thanks for sharing!

 

[kathydee]

KathyDee,

I just came across this today and wanted to tell you it is a great thread! Many of the ones IÃ×e read over the past few years have been mostly forgettable. This one will be in my memory for a long time and will be a continuing inspiration. All of the responders in this story are true heroes. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you !

 

[Doc Harry]

The divers main mistake was diving alone....

His main mistake was not diving alone, his main mistake was diving outside of his limits and panicking. There's nothing inherently dangerous about solo diving if you stay within your limits and don't panic.

 

[sunapeebob]

I agree with Doc Harry. I think that the more dives the diver has, the more problems they have encountered and are not phased by issues like "disorientation, etc". My personal feeling is that there is entirely too much emphasis on advanced C cards and "what level are you?" I have about 85 dives now and feel comfortable with my equipment, preparing to dive, keeping contact with a buddy, etc. I have continued to encounter different problems and am learning how to adjust to them/correct them/avoid them/etc. That is what makes a better diver. I would encourage this diver to continue once cleared by their physician, but dive to enjoy it, continue to learn, less about what level of certification they can obtain and how fast.
Oops - another hijacking!!

Bob

 

[clgsamson]

never too late....

Bravo Kathy, Bravo....

 

[kathydee]

(Bump = 13 months & over 200 dives later)

I assisted with another rescue yesterday and just want to share a bit of my experience.

A group of divers/people watched and called 911 as the unconscious diver was being towed to the shore.

I had a moment of hesitation flashing back to the first rescue, the seizing body, the trauma of being part of it all. But the victim was close to the shore and somebody needed to step up to the plate.

Myself and another diver ran down to the shore, plunged into the icy water to our knee in street clothes to accept her from the rescuing diver. We carried her up the rocks to a flat place. Then I realized the next step was on us.

There she was, white, her lips were blue, her body lifeless, her mouth was cracked slightly open, her eyes rolled back. It didn’t look promising. I was bit frightened, but knew our response could make the difference. ABC’s. It was automatic, tilt head back, look listen for breathing. I readied for CPR, but after a few seconds there was a faint gurgled breath ;-). Soon after a Dr showed up.

Out of a group of divers/bystanders several of us stepped up to the plate. Turns out the divers who helped had taken rescue class. The other rescuer was a by standing doctor. The in water rescuer & spotters were the heros, the rest of us all did our little part.

She was a newbie with a very inexperienced diver. Soon after she entered the water somehow her BC dumped air, her reg wasn’t in, neither knew what to do. She started drowning. He didn’t know how to help her. His calls for help and distress in the water were notice by vigilant divers, a rescue diver jumped in the water, pulled her out just in time and towed her back. Her breath appeared to have stopped - but returned and she was talking by the time the ambulance took her away.

If you're diving, it's really important to have rescue skills! I highly recommend taking the class!

 

[Bubbletrubble]

@kathydee: Wow. I think this qualifies as "great follow-up" on an already great thread. All OW-certified divers who plan to continue diving should take a Rescue class. I really wish that some of the instructional agencies and LDSes would get together to make it even easier for divers to get this training. Perhaps the instructional agency could reduce the cost of the Rescue class or the LDS could give some free air fills...anything to encourage divers to get this training. Maybe DAN could get involved somehow. Moreover, rescue training shouldn't stop with taking the class; an emphasis should be placed on continuing education. Perhaps LDSes in an area could coordinate an annual rescue scenario day and have a BBQ afterwards for participating divers.
Why don't instructional agencies and LDSes help Rescue-trained divers keep current on their rescue skills? It's difficult to recall what was taught if the class was taken several years ago.

Apparently, you seem to be getting some periodic practice.

Good job on the recent rescue...

 

[idocsteve]

The divers main mistake was diving alone.

So YOU say.

I see nothing in the story as recalled by you to indicate that "diving alone" is what caused this disaster.

As a solo diver, I always find myself shaking my head as I read posts by clueless divers who suggest that "diving alone" is the cause of most diving accidents.

That's simply not the case.