NAUI Master Scuba Diver 188 Rescue and Emergency Procedures Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Divers The use of 100% oxygen to treat victims of DCI or near-drowning is clearly recognized as the required first aid for divers. While more people are becoming trained in the delivery of oxygen to divers, DAN data shows that only 37 percent of injured divers receive oxygen as a first aid measure. It is critical that you understand the need for oxygen administration, and can convey that need to any emergency or other personnel who might be involved with the rescue or treatment of a diving accident victim (figure 6-9). There are excellent training programs in first aid for diving accidents, which include the delivery of oxygen, and are offered by groups such as DAN and NAUI. Equipment Removal If the distance to the shore or boat is only a short distance (less than 25 meters), do not concern yourself with equipment removal until you are in contact with the bottom or the boat. If you must transport the diver a considerable distance while performing artificial respiration, the following suggestions should be kept in mind: • Weight belts and the distressed diver’s mask are removed first. • If you are wearing a scuba tank, it should be removed as soon as possible because it increases drag during transport. • Removal of the victim’s B.C. unit is affected by several factors. Is it the only source of buoyancy? How far do you need to transport the victim? How easy is it to remove, and can you do it alone without interrupting ventilations? Unclip and remove the B.C. in small steps between ventilations. • Your fins should be removed only when you can stand in shallow water or are in contact with a boat. Removing the Victim From the Water One of the most difficult aspects of diver rescue is getting an unconscious, non-breathing victim out of the water with minimal interruption of artificial respiration. Techniques are as numerous as the situations. Different procedures are needed for shallow, sloping beaches, surf exits (figure 6-11), deep water shore exits, piers and wharves, and boats (figure 6-10). You will learn various exit methods in your NAUI Rescue Scuba Diver course. For now you should give some thought as to how you could accomplish this for the situations in which you dive. Accident Management When an unconscious, non-breathing diver has been removed from the water, initiate first aid procedures. If you are the most qualified person to handle the situation, manage the accident. Accident management involves a plan. Here is a partial listing of possible tasks that must be assigned if an Emergency Action Plan is to be successful. Many of these tasks should be assigned before the dive begins: • Have someone summon medical assistance. Be sure that person gives information on how they FIGURE 6-9. ADMINISTERING OXYGEN TO A DIVER
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