S Drill Etiquette

[Sas]

The likelihood of transmitting hepatitis (which is essentially not carried in saliva) or AIDS (which is not carried in saliva) by sharing a regulator is lower than your likelihood of getting killed in an auto accident on the way to the dive site. The likelihood of picking up a respiratory virus (which IS carried in mucus) is somewhat higher, although again, as the reg is passed from one person to another, it's being rinsed to some extent. I would not be happy sharing a regulator with someone with cold sores, though. That's a fairly easily transmitted virus which is present in significant quantities in tissue that is in contact with the regulator, and the biggest problem is that it's a persistent virus that you may never completely clear.

If I had a cold sore (which I luckily have never had) I would politely decline to participate in training activities that involve sharing a reg until the lesions were healed.

That is interesting to know. I definitely won't be too polite in the future if I end up buddied with someone with cold sores!

 

[Nemrod]

The likelihood of transmitting hepatitis (which is essentially not carried in saliva) or AIDS (which is not carried in saliva) by sharing a regulator is lower than your likelihood of getting killed in an auto accident on the way to the dive site. The likelihood of picking up a respiratory virus (which IS carried in mucus) is somewhat higher, although again, as the reg is passed from one person to another, it's being rinsed to some extent. I would not be happy sharing a regulator with someone with cold sores, though. That's a fairly easily transmitted virus which is present in significant quantities in tissue that is in contact with the regulator, and the biggest problem is that it's a persistent virus that you may never completely clear.

If I had a cold sore (which I luckily have never had) I would politely decline to participate in training activities that involve sharing a reg until the lesions were healed.

Cold sores, TB, rotting teeth, bleeding gums, blood, mucus, spit, poor hygiene, growth from who knows what in other peoples dirty regs.

Practice is one thing, actual emergency another, I think the two are being confused, the question was a practice S drill, not an actual OOA.

Phobia, unreasonable fear, those of us who are admittedly germ-a-phobic simply do not care what the chances are in supposed fact, we don't want to be the exception and we don't like your germs, that is why we are phobic.

Just because I were in scuba class with "X" person does not mean I want to share their spit or that they are my new found close buddy. I am from the South, I like for people to maintain a minimum of three feet personal space from me at all times.

N

 

[HowDidIGetIntoThis?]

Am I the only person who has used rental regs? I thought that was why we were told to get shots before taking an open water class. Great incentive to buy regs.

While I would never wish Bob to be in such a predicament that he needs to rely on his 4-legged buddy to save his life, I would like to be around when he gets it kitted out with a BCD and wet suit. You can lead a donkey to water, but you can't make it stick to a dive plan.

And then there is the specialized equipment. The new must have: a Donkey Bottle. It differs from a pony bottle because there is no hose. The mouthpiece is, ahem, integral to the cylinder.

Note to the neophytes: We do not breathe oxygen under water. We breathe gas. For further details, contact Bob.

 

[TechBlue]

Am I the only person who has used rental regs? I thought that was why we were told to get shots before taking an open water class. Great incentive to buy regs.

While I would never wish Bob to be in such a predicament that he needs to rely on his 4-legged buddy to save his life, I would like to be around when he gets it kitted out with a BCD and wet suit. You can lead a donkey to water, but you can't make it stick to a dive plan.

And then there is the specialized equipment. The new must have: a Donkey Bottle. It differs from a pony bottle because there is no hose. The mouthpiece is, ahem, integral to the cylinder.

Note to the neophytes: We do not breathe oxygen under water. We breathe gas. For further details, contact Bob.

 

[knotical]

Has there ever been a documented case of a disease transmitted via scuba regulator?

 

[spectrum]

Well this one seems to have run it's course and I got some useful information once we got past the chest thumping.
1) There is no common way of telling someone that you are not willing to exchange mouthpieces IN A DRILL SITUATION.
2) There is "some" level of risk in accepting the mouthpiece from an unhealthy donor.
3) Unknown stage of an ailment and existing water contamination makes resistance futile.
4) There is such a thing as a Modified S Drill and I happen to do that frequently.
5) I'm not tho only one who sees a risk here and my aversion may actually be mild compared to others.
6) A Donkey's A hole can be used as an alternate air source and Bob can sure turn a phrase.

Thanks everyone,
Pete

 

[Bubbletrubble]

The likelihood of transmitting hepatitis (which is essentially not carried in saliva) or AIDS (which is not carried in saliva) by sharing a regulator is lower than your likelihood of getting killed in an auto accident on the way to the dive site.

To clarify, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) is detectable in very low quantities in the saliva of AIDS patients. However, this does not mean that HIV can be transmitted via saliva. In fact, there has never been a reported case of HIV transmission occurring via saliva. Here's a link to the CDC factsheet on HIV transmission.

I would not be happy sharing a regulator with someone with cold sores, though. That's a fairly easily transmitted virus which is present in significant quantities in tissue that is in contact with the regulator, and the biggest problem is that it's a persistent virus that you may never completely clear.

If I had a cold sore (which I luckily have never had) I would politely decline to participate in training activities that involve sharing a reg until the lesions were healed.

Regarding cold sores...
The herpes simplex viruses that cause oral "cold sores" (HSV-1 and HSV-2) can certainly be transmitted via saliva. It's estimated that 100 million people in the U.S. population harbor latent HSV-1 infection. According to Spotswood Spruance, M.D. (an HSV expert at the University of Utah), those afflicted with recurrent HSV-1 infection shed the virus in saliva approx. 5% of the time when they show no symptoms (no oral sores or blisters).

The 2006 edition of Sports Dermatology mentions scuba divers in its "Viral Skin Infections" chapter. Since I have institutional access, here's an excerpt that others might be interested in:

Scuba divers suffer from herpes labialis for other reason (Potasman and Pick, 1997). During drills that simulate emergency situations, divers may frequently share mouthpieces of the pressurized air regulator, and a great deal of saliva tends to develop around the mouthpiece. Because these transitions among divers occur in less than 3 seconds, HSV likely survives on the mouthpiece during this brief time. Athletes who share protective mouthpieces are at risk for acquiring herpes labialis from other athletes with active infection (Table 2-1). Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes most cases of oral herpes labialis.

On the bright side, oral HSV-1 infection probably provides some immune protection against genital HSV-2 infection.

Decide for yourself if you want to share a regulator mouthpiece with someone else.

 

[TSandM]

Thank you for the correction, Bubbletrubble. I should have said "is not transmitted through" saliva.

 

[boulderjohn]

Here is an interesting take on this debate from the late George Carlin.

 

[boulderjohn]

6) A Donkey's A hole can be used as an alternate air source

People are just assuming this is true, but has this possibility ever truly been researched? Isn't it possible that the level of methane might be too high for this to be a safe alternative? Before I took a donkey into the cave with me, I would want to be sure it will work. I searched the DAN web site and I looked through Rubicon, but I cannot find a single authoritative study.

I suggest some brave soul, perhaps Bob since it was his idea, initiate a study. I am sure grant funds will be available somewhere.