Hi,
I am a 49 year old woman who weighs 135 lb and is 5'3 tall. I have a SCUBAPRO Classic Unlimited in size small. It fit perfectly.
I am currently working on my PADI rescue diver training. When I was the "victim" in rescue scenarios this past weekend, the two gentlemen I was teamed with could NOT get the BCD off of me, inflated, on the surface, while giving rescue breaths and towing. (simulated rescue breaths) I became concerned. Other people's BCDs have quick release clips on the chest to ditch their BCDs. Mine would not come over my shoulders, nor would my arms pull through the arm holes. I started searching for information on removing my BCD in an emergency, and did not find anything useful.
To give you more information, we were doing this at the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, FL in about 8 feet of water. The water temp was about 74 degrees and I was wearing a 7 mm full wetsuit, with a 3/5 hooded vest, 3 mm gloves and 20 lb of lead. 8 lb in each front pocket and 2 lb in each trim pocket. They dropped the front pockets, but did not attempt the ditch the weight in the trim pockets. Please advise me regarding the BEST way to remove this BCD in an emergency.
Thank you,
Amy Rabinowitz
Amy,
Let me address three points. One for you, one matter of opinion, and one for the group.
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Part 1. The theory.
First of all, given the way they teach the tow-and-peal in rescue (which I will get back to in a minute), I'll suggest that getting that BCD off in the water is a four step process that is similar to the don/doff exercise you do in the OW course. Let me break it down.
1) step one will involve unstrapping the chest and waist straps and to push the victim's BCD *UP* (or the victim down) as high as it can go. This can easily be achieved by pushing the TANK *up* toward the shoulders with the rescuer's left hand.
2) step two involves removing any wrist mounted instruments like a computer or compass from the victim's (probably left) arm. This is just to make step 3 easier.
3) step three is to fold the victim's arm up (wrist to shoulder) and then to feed the arm through the opening in the BCD and to push it through via the elbow (possibly holding the strap open with the other hand) so that the arm is now free of the BCD. In a comatose victim, this could (I believe) theoretically dislocate the shoulder but given the circumstances that's a minor concern if the victim's life is at stake.
4) step four involves pushing the entire set down under the water and allowing it to roll off to the right at which point removing the other arm is a matter of pulling the set away from the victim.
I know for a fact that this works because I've practiced it on buddies wearing continuous webbing harnesses with heavy double sets. It is, however, not the *easiest* way.
The *easiest* way is to take a knife and cut the BCD at the shoulder. This, of course, assumes you have a knife able to cut through the BCD quicker than what I just described.
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Part 2. The real world
That said, in a real world scenario, no rescue diver is going to have the training that I just described and they're simply not going to get you out of that gear. I have (alas) real world experience with rescuing a comatose diver and even with gear that has quick releases etc. it's *really* *REALLY* hard to get the victim out of their gear while trying to ventilate them. The whole thing is incredibly disgusting. The victim is ashen, completely limp and looks dead... there is pink salty metallic tasting froth coming out of his mouth because of the drowning that makes you want to puke... there are people panicking, there are people yelling orders, there are paramedics (if you're lucky) trying to tell you what to do and your adrenaline level is so high that you can't concentrate on anything, let alone act in a calm methodical manner.
Ergo... if you're in an accident, there's going to be no getting you out of that thing. Point out.
That's one of the reasons they stopped making them until people started thinking it was cool to buy "retro" gear.
If you dive with a regular buddy then make sure they're trained. My advice would be to carry a sharp knife, because that's going to make the difference.
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Part 3, PADI has it (partially) wrong.
I'm a PADI instructor, a tek (whatever that is) diver and I've been diving and assisting/teaching rescue diving for 27 years. I *thought* I knew how to execute a rescue until it actually happened.
This post is getting long so I'll make a long story short. The whole peal-and-ventilate model is a crock of ****. A total, unadulterated, unqualified crock of ****.
In the real world what *would* work, and what I now teach to *all* rescue students is that pealing and ventilating is a TEAM effort.
One diver gives rescue breaths. The other one focuses on getting the victim out of their gear.
... so you're all thinking *yeah*, but what if you're alone.
fine... ventilate and peal but there is one (and only one) thing that will help the victim. Getting them to paramedics A.S.A.H.P. As Fast As Humanly Possible.
That should be the only thing on your mind. if it's a short tow.... don't even bother trying to get them out of their gear. Just go. go go go.
IN all other cases.... scream... yell.... beg and pray... get help. Get someone else in the water to help you because ventilating and pealing on the fly just isn't going to help.
In the ultimate case.... do what you can but if there are no paramedics and no other help available then chances are 99% that you're ventilating a dead body.
R..
