Diving, Fitness, Obesity and Personal Rights

[Basking Ridge Diver]

That's so silly on so many levels. We're talking about diving. It can be a physically demanding activity. If you're in bad shape and have an incident underwater, your chances of of survival are minimal.
A modicum of good health is required by every agency. This is more about insurance liability than big brother. Perhaps PADI should remove the RSTC health requirement too? Is that too much interference for you?
IF people followed simple rules, we could eliminate a load of 'incidents' while diving.
1. Don't lie on your RSTC medical. (You'd be surprised how many people do). I asked a 'healthy' student (no YES answers) once why she had a juice sachet in a BC pocket. "Oh I'm diabetic and that's In case my blood sugars go low", she answered cheerily.
2. Get an annual physical especially if you're fat and unfit. But people don't do that-especially if they're feeling fat and unfit. They don't want to hear what they already know. So goes that cycle until you have to drag them from the water onto the boat.
Perhaps stronger regulations ARE apropos...

Hell No - Double No - No way in Hell No - Did I mention No? Holy Crap No...

The slippery slope of background checks, DNA Sampling, Dietary habits, stopping any Wounded Warrier programs or anyone physically handicapped should also be in consideration if you really want stronger regulations?

 

[tridacna]

Agree only if people agree to stop suing after they do stupid things. Amazing how the most committed "laissez faire" people jump on the "let's sue" wagon after they get hurt doing something stupid.

 

[Storker]

Hell No - Double No - No way in Hell No - Did I mention No? Holy Crap No...

The slippery slope of background checks, DNA Sampling, Dietary habits, stopping any Wounded Warrier programs or anyone physically handicapped should also be in consideration if you really want stronger regulations?

So... I guess it's better to have unfit divers killing themselves through incompetence and denial, putting the physical and mental health of the op's employees (plus, of course, the rescue divers and rescue personnel involved) on the line instead?

 

[tridacna]

No. Just want people to take responsibility for their own actions. Don't really care about new or better regulations. I do care about people lying on their medical forms-and expecting others to bear that burden. If more regulation is the answer, so be it.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

So... I guess it's better to have unfit divers killing themselves through incompetence and denial, putting the physical and mental health of the op's employees (plus, of course, the rescue divers and rescue personnel involved) on the line instead?

in a nutshell - yes

I happen to be a volunteer fireman - I see all kinds of things - we need to get back to personal freedoms and liberty and stop depending on big brother to keep us safe.

 

[tridacna]

in a nutshell - yes

I happen to be a volunteer fireman - I see all kinds of things - we need to get back to personal freedoms and liberty and stop depending on big brother to keep us safe.

Oh, if only. You have no idea how many people have an incredible revelation when they're injured in an accident. It's amazing. Conversion rates are 100% when PI attorneys come a knocking.

This entire issue is all about insurance companies NOT big brother. Do you really think that your state senator cares a fig about a constituent going diving? DOT regulates tanks. Who?

 

[Storker]

in a nutshell - yes

I happen to be a volunteer fireman - I see all kinds of things - we need to get back to personal freedoms and liberty and stop depending on big brother to keep us safe.

I guess that explains your (personal you) cavalier attitude towards seeing people dying.

Me, I care more about not burdening innocent tank monkeys and dive guides with your (general you) stupidity than about your (again general you) freedom to exercise that stupidity.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

I guess that explains your (personal you) cavalier attitude towards seeing people dying.

Me, I care more about not burdening innocent tank monkeys and dive guides with your (general you) stupidity than about your (again general you) freedom to exercise that stupidity.

Yep - six sides to every fence or story.

And that is why it is difficult to please everyone with a law or type of reform - and it is a good thing we dont all think the same - it would be a very boring place to live...

 

[drrich2]

"1. Don't lie on your RSTC medical. (You'd be surprised how many people do). "

Not likely to surprise me. If you answer yes, you're likely to be burdened to try to get a caregiver unfamiliar with diving to 'clear' you (perhaps more accurately the dive op. of liability) for even trivial issues, and open yourself to the possibility of being denied service even if you wish to pursue the trip.

Some people choose not to do that. No surprise there. It's a multifaceted issue that's been debated in other threads.

I agree that personal responsibility is sadly lacking in our country, and lawsuits have gotten ridiculous.

Nothing silly about powers that be taking our liberty to do things we love. Wasn't long ago a New York big shot tried to take away super-sized sugary sodas at restaurants! Look at the fear of losing access to dive sites in the cave diving community.

 

[uncfnp]

I guess that explains your (personal you) cavalier attitude towards seeing people dying.

Me, I care more about not burdening innocent tank monkeys and dive guides with your (general you) stupidity than about your (again general you) freedom to exercise that stupidity.

So Storker. How do you (general you) decide. What weight is the cut off? Do we use BMI? What age? Given the trend on the A&I forum prehaps just stop any male over 50 from diving. Exercise stress test? Not all that acurate in predicting an MI, especially in women. Who decides? General PCP? Should we all be required to see a dive specialist? That just transfers liability from the diver to the medical professional.

The answer to over litigation is not restriction of personal choice.