Diving Accident Scenario, What Can You Do ? Options

[Bubble2Bubble]

Dive Accident Scenario
diver 1 and diver 2 go out to a cold water lake to make a dive to 100ft then a second dive to 80ft both in 6.5 wetsuits.
They both have decided on a dive plan that includes making a down line several yards off the shoreline that has a known depth of 100ft and once the down line is completed they will dive to the bottom and diver 2 will go out 20 to 30 ft from the down line in a due north direction, then return to down line diver 1 (repeat) and they agree to use the standard safety procedures in-case something happens.

Here We Go
diver 1 and 2 successfully make a down line. then ok ok lets go diving signals.
as both divers are at 100ft/Bottom diver 2 goes out using a compass to the north along the bottom. diver 1 watches until a big plum of silt clouds up the water. diver 1 cant see diver 2 at all but awaits diver 2s return. after a short bit diver 1 starts the 1 minute countdown and after that will return to surface to connect with diver 2. diver 1 using the down line does the proper off gasing and returns to the surface where diver 2 is floating motionless. diver 2 DIVER 2 are you OK. no response from diver 2. diver 1 swims over to diver 2 and repeats.
no response still from diver 2. diver 1 checks diver 2s breathing and its shallow. diver 1 reaches for diver 2s detachable weight pack and it is missing, as diver 1 inflates diver 2s BCD diver 1 finds and releases diver 2s other detachable weights sending them to the Abyss.
diver 1 carries diver 2 onshore and removes diver 2s BCD then runs over to the vehicle and calls 911. What Is Your Emergency ?
my name is diver 1 and I was diving with another diver named diver 2 and I lost contact with diver 2 at the bottom of a cold water lake located at blankity blank and I found diver 2 floating on the surface when I returned to surface. diver 2 is not responsive but is breathing alittle.

We Are Sending EMTs NOW.


While Waiting

What else can diver 1 do for diver 2 till the EMTs arrive ???

Bubski

[secretsea18]

A terrible situation to begin with. Based on the missing weights, it might be that the diver lost the weights and had a rapid ascent to the surface, and thus an AGE is a real possiblility.

Application of 100% Oxygen would be first treatment, if available.

Make sure you buddy keeps breathing, and loosen anything restrictive about the chest/neck areas.

Otherwise hope to be beamed into a chamber ASAP ...

[ScubaDadMiami]

If the buddy has only been on the bottom for a few minutes, he can make a direct ascent (not a rapid, dangerous ascent) to the surface without making the stop to offgas in this emergency. Getting to the other diver who could be on the surface, face down, or lost underwater, is the priority. If this is only a separation, after meeting up with the lost diver, the divers can immediately return to the safety stop depth, staying there for extra time to account for failing to make a stop during the separation.

However, given that the rescue has taken place as you state in your scenario, the victim, and if possible, the rescuer, should get on oxygen as soon as possible. (For the rescuer, this can make up for the lack of stop plus strenuous activity of the rescue.) If conscious and alert, consume water or other similar liquid.

You have already contacted EMS. So, there isn't much more to do than apply first aid practices as needed.

[Dive_Girl]

If the buddy has only been on the bottom for a few minutes, he can make a direct ascent (not a rapid, dangerous ascent) to the surface without making the stop to offgas in this emergency. Getting to the other diver who could be on the surface, face down, or lost underwater, is the priority. If this is only a separation, after meeting up with the lost diver, the divers can immediately return to the safety stop depth, staying there for extra time to account for failing to make a stop during the separation.

However, given that the rescue has taken place as you state in your scenario, the victim, and if possible, the rescuer, should get on oxygen as soon as possible. (For the rescuer, this can make up for the lack of stop plus strenuous activity of the rescue.) If conscious and alert, consume water or other similar liquid.

You have already contacted EMS. So, there isn't much more to do than apply first aid practices as needed.

Continuing with first aid should definitely include watching closely to make sure Diver 2 doesn't stop breathing. I also definitely agree with and reiterate the first paragraph - if the diver has not been down too long, a safe direct ascent should be acceptable.

If there is something more to be done - I too would be interested in hearing.

[pir8]

If the buddy has only been on the bottom for a few minutes, he can make a direct ascent (not a rapid, dangerous ascent) to the surface without making the stop to offgas in this emergency. Getting to the other diver who could be on the surface, face down, or lost underwater, is the priority. If this is only a separation, after meeting up with the lost diver, the divers can immediately return to the safety stop depth, staying there for extra time to account for failing to make a stop during the separation.

However, given that the rescue has taken place as you state in your scenario, the victim, and if possible, the rescuer, should get on oxygen as soon as possible. (For the rescuer, this can make up for the lack of stop plus strenuous activity of the rescue.) If conscious and alert, consume water or other similar liquid.

You have already contacted EMS. So, there isn't much more to do than apply first aid practices as needed.

Continuing with first aid should definitely include watching closely to make sure Diver 2 doesn't stop breathing. I also definitely agree with and reiterate the first paragraph - if the diver has not been down too long, a safe direct ascent should be acceptable.

If there is something more to be done - I too would be interested in hearing.

But the OP said that a normal ascent with safety stop was done by the diver because he did not have visual contact with tthe diver in need, so didn't know of a problem yet. And yes all you can really do in this circumstance is continue first aid and provide O2 if available til EMS arrives.

[Scubatooth]

From what previous posters have said is good. I’m just going to add a few things based off my training as a paramedic.

For the record if a person isn’t breathing adequately (for a normal adult this is 12-20 times a minute and is with the chest rising about 2-3 inches on inspiration) you need to perform rescue breathing as if they are breathing adequately they will be circling the drain quickly.

For the rescue breathing what you want to do is keep it at a constant rate and time it for when the person is breathing and fill in the gaps to get the rate to 12-20 min with 15 times a minute being a happy median. The timing of this is a rescue breath should be about 1 second long and then wait 3-4 seconds before another breath

If you have 02 do the ventilations through the mask if you have the type of mask that has a connector for attaching oxygen tubing to it (this is the cpr masks that cover the mouth and nose along with a one-way barrier, but will allow exhalation to escape).

It may seem messed up to be over driving a persons breathing but its fine its what EMS does most of the time with a person who is either breathing do slowly or to fast (<10 >25 breaths a minute) and is necessary to maintain the 02 levels in the body and regulate respirations. Most likely if the victim is unconscious and not breathing adequately they will be intubated to protect their airway when EMS arrives on scene.

Also if the person has embolised you need to keep a very close eye on the victim’s condition & pulse as most likely it went into the brain and if it did will cause the breathing of the victim to not be normal (or absent) because of a blockage or air pocket in the brain. Be ready to perform CPR.

The other one is that diver #2 needs to go to the hospital as well to be checked out as like SDM said a rescue is a stressful event on the body and could cause bubble growth. Getting the 02 and potentially the IV fluids would be good. Better to be safe then sorry.


Disclaimer: This is only my opinion read into it how you like, but seek additional training so you have a well grounded understanding of proper procedures and First Aid.

[Bubble2Bubble]

I'm glad we can all agree that staying with Diver 2 and applying or being ready to apply
any skills, training or equipment we have, including common sense would be the best thing to do.


This scenario has a good ending tho.
after a full investigation and the testimony from Diver 2 including the recovery of the weight packs. it was found that Diver 2 did the proper off gassing procedure( according to the puter a little bit fast) and surfaced. not seeing Diver 1, Diver 2 panicked and threw his arms into the air and flapped them like a big sissy all the while calling for Momma, this threw Diver 2 into a heart attack and before diver 2 passed out was able to knock off one of his weight packs by flapping his arms like an Idiot. after this horrible event Diver 1 and Diver 2 got married.

Awwwwww

NO... that really sucked!!! she was the best diver in our group

Moral of the Story...... Dont Panic

Bubski

This post has been edited by Bubble2Bubble: Apr 22 2007, 02:08 PM

[TraceMalin]

after this horrible event Diver 1 and Diver 2 got married.

Since you left out the fact that they were romantically involved, the other important thing that Diver 1 could do for Diver 2 is make sure Diver 1 is the beneficiary of Diver 2's will. Diver 1 can then use some of the life insurance for a nice memorial before taking all of those solo dive trips to exotic places.

Trace