Kevrumbo
Banned
- Messages
- 5,659
- Reaction score
- 1,361
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
Scary stress reaction in an experienced cave diver and Scuba instructor, after a wing inflator detachment malfunction and an active physical exertion kicking ascent to surface with double sidemount cylinders, further compounded by surfacing in a potentially low oxygen/high inert gas asphyxiant ambient environment.
Note the classic symptoms of hyperventilation, work-of-breathing, and finally panicked rejection of a working and functional 2nd stage regulator by the victim ("Can't get enough air out of it. . .!"), which is one of the major irrational cognitive signs of a distressed diver in Hypercapnic Alarm Response:
The "air hunger" or "air starvation" instinct is a powerful driver, and a scary enough motivator that can potentially make you do irrational things like reject a regulator, or hold your breath on a panicked ascent to the "easier breathing" air of the surface:
The most common physiological response and potential malady of all divers resulting from heavy physical exertion at depth is metabolic Carbon Dioxide retention and poisoning; Of the PADI mantra, the first two maxims are the most important in getting out of a vicious cycle of metabolic CO2 poisoning that is quickly spiraling into acute Hypercapnia:
STOP. BREATHE. (THINK. ACT.). . .
"In terms of treating hypercapnia, the time-honored “PADI advice” for an out-of-breath diver to “stop, breathe deeply, and rest” remains valid, but should be appended with “... as soon as you feel symptoms of hypercapnia” because it is often not followed until it is too late by highly motivated technical divers. The period of rest should be used to review options to favorably modify the situation. A quick review of the breathing equipment may be rewarding. For example, hypercapnia may be caused by the added breathing resistance of partially closed cylinder or rebreather mouthpiece shutoff valves. . ."
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/files/Tech_Proceedings_Feb2010.pdf , p.33
Note the classic symptoms of hyperventilation, work-of-breathing, and finally panicked rejection of a working and functional 2nd stage regulator by the victim ("Can't get enough air out of it. . .!"), which is one of the major irrational cognitive signs of a distressed diver in Hypercapnic Alarm Response:
The "air hunger" or "air starvation" instinct is a powerful driver, and a scary enough motivator that can potentially make you do irrational things like reject a regulator, or hold your breath on a panicked ascent to the "easier breathing" air of the surface:
The most common physiological response and potential malady of all divers resulting from heavy physical exertion at depth is metabolic Carbon Dioxide retention and poisoning; Of the PADI mantra, the first two maxims are the most important in getting out of a vicious cycle of metabolic CO2 poisoning that is quickly spiraling into acute Hypercapnia:
STOP. BREATHE. (THINK. ACT.). . .
"In terms of treating hypercapnia, the time-honored “PADI advice” for an out-of-breath diver to “stop, breathe deeply, and rest” remains valid, but should be appended with “... as soon as you feel symptoms of hypercapnia” because it is often not followed until it is too late by highly motivated technical divers. The period of rest should be used to review options to favorably modify the situation. A quick review of the breathing equipment may be rewarding. For example, hypercapnia may be caused by the added breathing resistance of partially closed cylinder or rebreather mouthpiece shutoff valves. . ."
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/files/Tech_Proceedings_Feb2010.pdf , p.33
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