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• Severe bleeding. • Respiratory failure. • Heart failure. • Shock. • Serious diving accidents such as lung overexpansion injuries and DCS. Emergency training in first aid will teach you how to properly respond in the first four areas. First aid for air embolism and DCS also includes lying the victim down and maintaining their respiration and circulation. You must also treat for shock, administer oxygen if available, constantly monitor the victim, and transport the victim to the nearest appropriate medical facility or operational recompression chamber (figure 7-11). NAUI recommends that you take the NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver course, in which you can learn and practice accident management. See your instructor for more information about this important course. CPR and Oxygen Administration You should have training in first aid and artificial respiration. Everyone, diver or not, should be prepared to administer first aid and especially cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If you have not taken courses to Chapter 7- Problem Solving acquire these skills or refreshed your knowledge for one or two years, you should complete one of the programs available through various agencies. As a diver, you should also complete training in oxygen administration through a NAUI instructor. Aquatic Life Injuries General first aid training does not cover treatment of injuries from aquatic life, although most of the general procedures also apply to this specialty area. General guidelines are presented here. Your instructor will give you specific treatments for injuries from aquatic life in your area. Prevention Aggressive animal behavior under water is rare. Any injury you might receive from an aquatic animal will almost always result from a defensive action on the part of the creature, but it will hurt anyway! Remember that nearly all animals will attack if they feel cornered or threatened. Avoid potential problems with aquatic life in your area by learning how to identify hazardous creatures and how to avoid them. Remember that when you are diving, you are entering the home of these creatures. Respect the creatures and their home, and they will leave you alone. If you act aggressively towards any marine life, they will attack to protect themselves. Some are very territorial, and will attack if you approach their home. Treatment Injuries from aquatic life are classified in one or more of the following categories: • Punctures • Stings • Bites and lacerations • Amputations Sea urchins, spiny fish, or stingrays can cause puncture wounds. If possible, remove any material in the wound. Toxins might have been injected and must be treated by soaking the wounded area in water as hot as the victim can tolerate for at least 20 minutes. Some divers Problem Solving 171 FIGURE 7-11. IN ADDITION TO ADMINISTERING OXYGEN FOR A DIVING EMERGENCY, YOU MUST ALSO TREAT FOR SHOCK, MONITOR THE VICTIM, AND OBTAIN THEIR TRANSPORT TO MEDICAL ATTENTION.


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