Dan ....

[Pyromaniac]

DAN - Diver Alert Network, is this a US thing or is it open to anyone?

Not started my diving yet - but keep seeing topics where folk get advised to call DAN if they appear to suffer any problems after a dive or need info on flying and so on after a dive.

What exactly do they do apart from give advice on if you might have a dive related medical condition?

Many Thanks

Gerry

 

[El Orans]

DAN's mission is that of operating and maintaining an international network of alarm centers, active 24 hours a day, guaranteeing, in the event of an emergency, specialized assistance, to any diver, anywhere in the world.

DAN also provides diving medical advice, carries out research into diving safety, organizes courses and seminars with the aim of increasing the knowledge and sense of responsibility of recreational divers and provides financial and technical assistance to hyperbaric treatment centers in developing countries.

DAN: America / Europe / Japan / South-East Asia Pacific / Southern Africa.

 

[speedhound]

Hi Pyro,
DAN - Divers Alert Network- are based in Duke University, NC, and have done- and continue to do - a lot of research on the medical aspects of diving. There is a lot of medical/health advice on their website for all aspects of diving and related topics. In the US, another big appeal is their medical dive insurance packages. Over here there is no NHS, and so without medical insurance you're screwed - and a lot of insurers classify SCUBA as hazardous so won't cover dive-related injuries, DCS, medivac and so. The DAN packages cover top-up insurance to pick anything not covered by your own.


While we don't need medical insurance in the UK, it may be desirable for dive-related stuff. I've not lived there for a few years, so am not sure what has and hasn't changed since I was there (2000).
Dive safe and have fun!

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

DAN will also arrange for transport and hyperbaric chamber treatment. DAN is pretty cheap, and it's good to have at least a basic membership.

 

[dbulmer]

Pyromaniac,
You'd call the DDRC in the UK if you were at home and suspected a DCS hit or in your case most likely the hyperbaric chamber directly- some people do have DAN insurance but the skipper,coastguard and DDRC are who you'd call in the UK if you were on a boat for example.

Where DAN might be useful is for holidays abroad but most holiday companies can arrange holiday dive insurance or you could choose companies specialising in Dive Insurance. Some dive clubs also have dive insurance ie BSAC, SAA, SCOTSAC etc- these would cover diving incidents loss of earnings etc.