All four of my OW students
are now certified, and the two
AOW students have completed
their certification and have started
rescue-diver training. Bradley,
nearing the completion of his
rescue-diver training, thinks he
should get a free pass for saving my
life, but that’s not going to happen.
This incident occurred in 2012,
so the ages and certifications have
changed since then. Bradley is
now 17, a college-bound student
and rescue-diver candidate.
Christopher, 13, is a high-school
student and an AOW candidate.
I couldn’t be prouder of them.
I later asked Bradley and
Christopher what they were
thinking during the event. Bradley
said he went on “automatic.” He
did everything I had taught him
and more. See, sometimes they do
pay attention. Christopher said
he just followed Bradley’s orders
and tried to remember what he’d
learned from watching some of the
classes I had taught. For my part,
I think I’ll keep them around —
rent-free.
AD
|
55
Bay Islands, Honduras
M/V CARIBBEANPEARL II
Socorro and Guadalupe
M/V SOLMAR V
M/VGALAPAGOS SKY
Galapagos
MS/VWAOW
Indonesia
M/VORION
Maldives
Peter A. Hughes,
Founder
Palau
M/V SOLITUDEONE
NEW!
Maldives
M/VOCEANDIVINE
NEW!
DESTINATIONS!
LIVE-ABOARDS!
THE MEDIC’S PERSPECTIVE
It is always a pleasure to hear when medical emergencies result
in a positive outcome. The response from the diver’s sons speaks
volumes to the importance of early and continuing education in
dive safety and emergency preparedness. The incident also reminds
us that there can be and are instances when dive leaders experience
problems and require assistance. Dive professionals are not immune
to circumstance or error, and being trained and confident enough to
provide aid when necessary should be part of every diver’s aspirations.
In many ways this diver was lucky. First, he had a team of
responsive and organized student divers around him — a testament
both to his skill as an instructor and to his sons’ attentiveness and
confidence. He was also lucky that he did not have a collapsed lung. It
is not uncommon for some heart problems such as atrial fibrillation
to manifest as shortness of breath, and the fact that Bradley was able
to yell for his son is inconsistent with a collapsed lung. Providing
surface oxygen was absolutely appropriate in this case as it is in most
first-aid situations associated with diving.
As this account illustrates, very different issues can present in
similar manners, and it is a very human trait to self-diagnose when
we experience a sudden health condition. When in distress, it is
fully understandable that we want to determine the problem and
immediately try to make it better, but it is far too easy to make
the wrong diagnosis. This is why prompt evaluation by medical
professionals is imperative. Once EMS arrived, they very quickly
identified the health issue and were able to treat him appropriately.
There is still no substitute for proper training, practice and having
the confidence to implement care when needed. The diver and his
sons are to be commended for their response to a frightening and
serious situation.
Having an episode of atrial fibrillation should keep the diver on
alert. Atrial fibrillation is often recurrent and becomes more frequent
with aging. Fitness to dive is evaluated on an individual basis and
should be reconsidered regularly.
