My 13yr old son fell off his skateboard on June 15, he ended up with a fractured skull, concussion, etc. He has made a full recovery and has been cleared for activity by the concussion clinic, ENT, and neurologist. Neurologist said my son was "probably" ok to dive, but honestly didn't know if the pressure would affect him. Any thoughts?
Injuries and diving
- Thread starter DiverDLE
- Start date
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Contact DAN, and talk to a medical professional. I don't think many on here would be comfortable or qualified to suggest otherwise. 
Scuba Diving Medical Safety Advice — DAN | Divers Alert Network
Scuba Diving Medical Safety Advice — DAN | Divers Alert Network
Don't just call DAN - if you're going to dive, join DAN as a member! They do awesome work and they deserve all our support.
Possibly have your doctor call DAN. Doctors can talk to each other in their own language then your doctor can make a much more informed decision.
There are several doctors in Maryland who are qualified to do "fitness to dive" examinations. Check out this list: Diving Medical Examiners List - Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society
nolatom
Contributor
Here's some general advice from Alert Diver, who are the "DAN" folks we generally trust a lot:
Alert Diver | DAN Medics Answer Your Questions about Dive Medicine: Summer 2011
That said, I had a concussion (hit by a boom on a boat, knocked out for about 10-15 minutes) and dived a few months later without incident as I recall. This was 12 years ago. I had some minor memory loss, and some vertigo. Both bothered me on land for a few weeks, but didn't seem to matter underwater. I was probably too casual about all this. With a kid, I'd be more cautious.
Alert Diver | DAN Medics Answer Your Questions about Dive Medicine: Summer 2011
That said, I had a concussion (hit by a boom on a boat, knocked out for about 10-15 minutes) and dived a few months later without incident as I recall. This was 12 years ago. I had some minor memory loss, and some vertigo. Both bothered me on land for a few weeks, but didn't seem to matter underwater. I was probably too casual about all this. With a kid, I'd be more cautious.
EricTheDood
Contributor
DiverDLE,
Apparently your son fell June 15, 2017, is that correct? If so, and there's was an actual skull fracture, I would be hesitant to allow SCUBA diving for six months after this injury.
I am not a doctor, but do have my MSPH degree, and also experienced a bicycle fall some years ago, with concussion, and subsequent dizziness. I was semiconscious for about 20 minutes after the fall, and do not remember events just prior to the fall, and until I "woke up" in the ER. I stayed away from any water activities for six months, and when I finally went swimming I went up to the lifeguards to tell them of my injury, the dizziness subsequent to that (which ebbed over time) and to ask them to keep an eye on my during that first swim, which they did. I was concerned about flip turns, and whether they would trigger a dizziness episode. They did not, and I had a good swim, then returned to diving, first again in the pool, then in open water.
Concerning your son, you have not described any of his symptoms, but a skull fracture is fairly serious, and takes months to heal fully, not weeks. Hence my thoughts on waiting six months.
SeaRat
PS, the ER doc told me that "...without a helmet, if I had been unlucky that day, I would have lived." The comment "No Helmet?" above is a good one. My helmet did its job, but was handed to me in a sack of helmet pieces.
Apparently your son fell June 15, 2017, is that correct? If so, and there's was an actual skull fracture, I would be hesitant to allow SCUBA diving for six months after this injury.
I am not a doctor, but do have my MSPH degree, and also experienced a bicycle fall some years ago, with concussion, and subsequent dizziness. I was semiconscious for about 20 minutes after the fall, and do not remember events just prior to the fall, and until I "woke up" in the ER. I stayed away from any water activities for six months, and when I finally went swimming I went up to the lifeguards to tell them of my injury, the dizziness subsequent to that (which ebbed over time) and to ask them to keep an eye on my during that first swim, which they did. I was concerned about flip turns, and whether they would trigger a dizziness episode. They did not, and I had a good swim, then returned to diving, first again in the pool, then in open water.
Concerning your son, you have not described any of his symptoms, but a skull fracture is fairly serious, and takes months to heal fully, not weeks. Hence my thoughts on waiting six months.
SeaRat
PS, the ER doc told me that "...without a helmet, if I had been unlucky that day, I would have lived." The comment "No Helmet?" above is a good one. My helmet did its job, but was handed to me in a sack of helmet pieces.
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Correct, no helmet! I wasn't home to make sure he had it on and he said "he didn't plan on falling"......
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