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Diver Duties
Diving
Emergency Management Plan
The
Diving Emergency Management Plan is used on each dive day. The
plan is used in the event of a diving emergency and to plan all
diving operations safely according to the NOAA Diving Regulations.
A.
Dive Emergency Plan: Conscious, Alert, Diving Accident Victim
- Evaluate
victims Airway, Breathing
and Circulation.
- Call
911 to inform the local emergency dispatcher about the
diving accident. The dispatcher will notify land transportation,
[NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL], U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the [NAME
OF RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER], and the [NAME OF LOCAL OCEAN RESCUE
TEAM].
- Put
the victim on 100% oxygen using a demand valve or non-rebreather
mask.
- Evaluate
the victim for the type of diving injury.
- Perform
a rapid field neurological examination to assess problem
areas.
- Gather
as much information about dive as possible.
- Keep
the dive computer with the victim.
- Secure
victims other dive gear for examination, do not
disassemble gear.
- Interview
the victims buddy for information about the dive.
- If
decompression illness is suspected, or any other type of compressed
gas injury (arterial gas embolism, pneumothorax, etc.) keep
the victim flat on his / her back do not raise the
victim feet . Place the victim on his / her side
if nauseated or vomiting keep the airway clear.
- The
victim should be transported to [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL] for
evaluation first. [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL] is affiliated with
the [NAME OF RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER].
- If
not nauseated and not experiencing altered level
of consciousness, give the victim hypertonic fluids during
transportation to [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL].
- Continue
oxygen administration.
- Send
the victims dive computer with him / her to the
hospital with any other records, such as results of the
rapid field neurological examination.
- Keep
victim out of sun and watch for shock.
- Based
on the evaluation by the doctor at [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL],
the victim may be transported to the [NAME OF RECOMPRESSION
CHAMBER] for treatment.
B.
Dive Emergency Plan: Unconscious, Non-Responsive, Diving Accident Victim
- Evaluate
victims A irway, B reathing and C irculation.
- Call
911 and call the U.S. Coast Guard, Group [LOCATION]
(USCG) at [USCG TELEPHONE NUMBER], or hail them on Channel
16 to report a diving accident.
- Put
the victim on 100% oxygen at 15 liters per minute (15 lm)
using a demand valve or non-rebreather mask. When administering
100% oxygen 15 lm, use a bag valve mask (BVM) if it is available
and the rescuer is trained in proper administration of oxygen
with the BVM.
- Perform
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or rescue breathing if necessary.
- Evaluate
the victim for the type of diving injury.
- Gather
as much information about dive as possible.
- Keep
dive computer with the victim.
- Secure
victims other dive gear for examination, do not
disassemble gear.
- Interview
the victims buddy for information about the dive.
- Transport
the victim to the nearest harbor closest to the dive site
[NAME OF NEAREST HARBOR OR EVACUATION SITE] for evacuation
to [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL] by a local ambulance. The local
ambulance will await the diver at the dock.
- Send
the victims dive computer with him / her to the hospital
with any other records.
- If
there are vessel problems, call the USCG [USCG TELEPHONE NUMBER]
to arrange air evacuation of the victim. The USCG air evacuation
team will coordinate with [NAME OF LOCAL HOSPITAL]. Only call
for air evacuation if the vessel is too far from shore, or
it is unsafe to transport by vessel. Air evacuation can degrade
a victims condition
C.
Recompression Chamber Information
- Primary
recompression
chamber:
- [LOCATION]
- [STREET
ADDRESS]
- [TELEPHONE
NUMBER DURING NORMAL HOURS]
- [TELEPHONE
NUMBER AFTER HOURS]
- Before
diving operations begin, the NOAA Divemaster will call one
of the telephone numbers to determine if the recompression
chamber is operational. If the primary recompression chamber
is not operational, alternate telephone numbers will be called.
- Alternate
telephone numbers for recompression chambers or diving emergencies
are:
- [FIRST
ALTERNATE RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER & TELEPHONE NUMBER].
- [SECOND
ALTERNATE RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER & TELEPHONE NUMBER].
- Divers
Alert Network 24-hour emergency number: (919) 684-8111.
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