I was involved in the rescue on Saturday morning. While helping my wife, Jill Heinerth, and Evelyn Dudas, gear up for a scooter class I heard calls for help from the end of the dock. A male diver (part of an OW class I was later told) was brought to the surface unconcious and unresponsive. Several instructors, in and out of the water, and myself lifted the victim from the water and immediately began CPR. The guy was very large, heavy and his airway was obstructed by a swollen tongue making rescue breathing a real challenge. (I should say at this point that I am a nurse who works in an ER setting in Florida correctional facilities, and was an Army medic.) After about two minutes of CPR he began sputtering and breathing on his own, had a pulse, but remained unresponsive. The Dutch Springs EMT arrived with a jump bag with O2. We put the victim on oxygen, called an ambulance and packaged him on a backboard for transport.
A few comments:
- There are usually two types of (general public type) people in emergency situations: those who walk away and those who RUN to help. I was very impressed with the quick, professional response by the DS Dive community. It seemed as if we had so many people running to help that we had to manage the rescuers so no one else got hurt trying to assist. (it is hard to do CPR in tanks and BCD-but TWO guys in full dive gear were going at it!) Wow!
-the Dutch EMT was on site and had the victim on O2 in minutes! The Dutch staff called an ambulance to the scene immediately. The coordination of the DS EMT's was amazing.
- "Jim" from Dudas diving outdid himself. He lifted the victim, did CPR, helped package and carry...all while in complete dive gear. I had to force him to let someone else relieve him as we carried the victim to the waiting ambulance!
- a second, unidentified dive instructor jumped up from his class prepping at the waterside and had "hands on" the victim in seconds. This guy and Jim likely saved the diver's life.
- While doing CPR/O2 administration etc...I repeatedly asked "WHO DOES THIS GUY BELONG TO?" An instructor came up to me and told me his name and basic circumstances. When I asked the victim to squeeze my fingers using his name, he weakly responded. At this point things looked optimistic.
-As we put him in the ambulance he was breathing (rather shallow) on his own, had a pulse in the 60's and his color was turning from blue to pink!
I don't know what happened to cause the incident, but I do know that EVERYONE involved did a great service to a fellow diver. The victim was very fortunate that the right people were present at the right time. If I am ever in need of CPR I can only hope that the first 4 people who touch me are dive instructors, EMT's and nurses!
I heard that he recovered in the ER, and was being held for observartion.
WELL DONE to the Dutch Springs Dive Community!
Man...there are a lot of divers jockying for parking spaces up there! Some of you folks may want to come dive the clear blue springs of north Florida! And you can park a few feet from the site...!
Best Regards to all-
Robert McClellan
www.intotheplanet.com
robert@newindigo.com
