Scuba risk factors

[MaxBottomtime]

I've been at risk of dying since the day I was born. I've managed to avoid it until now, so I'm not going to worry about it. I plan to dive a lot longer than Cousteau did.

 

[vladimir]

1. older than 45 yo √
2. smoker X
3. overweight X
4. regularly using medications X
5. high cholesterol X
6. illness or recent surgical intervention X
7. asthma, epilepsy, or lung/respiratory problems X

I take risk-factor #1 pretty seriously. All I have to do is step on to a basketball court for a rude reminder of the ravages of age. I stay well inside the NDLs, I watch for fatigue after dives that might be signs of sub-clinical DCS, and more often than not I opt to skip that 4th dive of the day. I just got an "executive physical" in June. I passed with flying colors, including the stress EKG.

 

[captain]

I was diving with Fred and Bill. I had finished my dive before Fred and Bill and was on the boat relaxing when Bill came up hauling a nice bag of lobsters. I asked where was Fred, he said Fred had a heart attack. I said "you left Fred in the water and hauled the lobsters back." Bill said, yea, I figured no one would steal Fred.
So if your dive buddy has a heart attack, bring the lobsters back, no one will steal your buddy.

 

[buton]

I am 29 so I guess there will be plenty of diving as you say that it its not that risky..

 

[Bob DBF]

I am 29 so I guess there will be plenty of diving as you say that it its not that risky..

Depends on how you dive.


Bob
-----------------------------
I may be old, but I’m not dead yet.

 

[buton]

Diving according to the rules of my ow course, not doing anything stupid, I have read a lot on this forum to avoid some mistakes of the diving incidents and as dan says many problems are because we don't follow the rules....

 

[mselenaous]

I've been at risk of dying since the day I was born. I've managed to avoid it until now, so I'm not going to worry about it. I plan to dive a lot longer than Cousteau did.

I suspect you and Merry will, especially since you dive almost exclusively in cold water and refrigeration is a form of preservation.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

It was 51F at Marineland on Monday. Winter is arriving early this year.

 

[Epinephelus]

Well, let's see. I'm 63, smoked from 9-39, am heavy for my height according to the "standards" (but still a sinker), have high cholesterol and about four feet of scars both surgical and injury-related.
I like to get deep enough for the nitrogen to relieve the arthritis pain in my joints.
Often.

E

I've just finished my Stress&Rescue diver course classroom and pool sessions under SSI.
In the text book, some scuba risk factors related to the diver are :
1. older than 45 yo
2. smoker
3. over weighed
4. regularly using medications
5. high cholesterol
6. illness or recent surgical intervention
7. asthma, epilepsy, or lung/respiratory problems

Though it's pretty clear points 2 to 7, I'm concerned with point Nro 1.
As per this poll : http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/381337-average-age-divers-today.html
the greatest percentage of divers (27.1 %) is in the range of 50 to 59 years old, I'm in this range, followed by (25.1 %) 40 to 49 yo, so, most of us are under risk.
This statement seems to me a little old fashioned, and depends of each one's physical condition.

 

[fjpatrum]

You can bet that I won't be napping on my couch anymore! Thanks for the heads up!

Yeah, you should always nap on the floor or in your bed. The couch is never a safe place to spend a lot of time.