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D
ive accidents can happen anywhere,
any time and to anyone. As divers, we
know that oxygen is widely accepted
as the standard first aid for symptoms
after diving. Oxygen is so vitally
important that it should be readily
available wherever people are diving.
Oxygen provides many benefits, including mitigating
respiratory distress, reducing swelling and increasing
oxygenation of the body’s tissues, which promotes healing.
In cases of suspected decompression illness, oxygen helps
minimize further tissue injury, enhances elimination of
inert gas (e.g., nitrogen) and contributes to good outcomes.
It can even save lives.
It is important that you take responsibility for your
safety. Ask your dive operator about the availability of
oxygen. It is absolutely reasonable to ask to see the oxygen
unit before the boat leaves the dock; this ensures you
know where it is and that it’s in good condition. Note that
some dive professionals present the oxygen unit as part
of their dive briefing. Depending on the location of the
dive site, ask if there is enough oxygen to get at least one
injured diver back to the dock or to the closest medical
facility. Finally, identify which of the dive staff are trained
in oxygen first aid.
Simply having oxygen it is not enough. Safely and
correctly administering oxygen first aid requires proper
training. Fortunately, DAN has you covered. The DAN
Emergency Oxygen for Scuba Diving Injuries course was
developed by medical experts and designed to provide
divers (and nondivers) with the skills to respond to
emergencies with confidence. For more than 20 years this
course has taught divers how to administer oxygen in the
event of diving injuries and other aquatic emergencies.
DAN is here to field calls about oxygen administration,
transportation to medical facilities, follow-up care and
other dive accident concerns. We encourage divers
and others responding to emergencies to call the DAN
Emergency Hotline (+1-919-684-9111). We even
provide medical consultation to emergency departments,
hyperbaric facilities
and other medical
professionals to assist
with treatment.
Obtaining medical-
grade oxygen can
be a challenge in many places because of the need for a
prescription or limited access to a facility that supplies
oxygen. If you have trouble filling your oxygen unit,
contact DAN at +1-919-684-2948.
DAN developed the Oxygen Grant Program to both
enhance diver safety and support dive professionals. The
program improves access to this potentially life-saving
treatment by providing oxygen units to dive operations
and organizations that demonstrate a genuine need.
Improving access to oxygen is particularly important in
remote locations, where getting proper medical care may
be not be straightforward.
When dive injuries occur, being able to recognize
the problem and respond with the appropriate care can
speed recovery and minimize lasting effects. DAN feels
so strongly about the need for access to oxygen first aid
and the benefits it provides that we are dedicating all the
proceeds from our end-of-year fundraiser to expanding our
Oxygen Grant Program worldwide.
DAN would not be what it is today without the support
of divers and the dive professionals who work to keep
divers safe. Spread the word: If you know an organization
that has a genuine need for oxygen in the pursuit of their
interaction with the dive or aquatics communities, tell
them about the DAN Oxygen Grant Program. Most
importantly, make sure your emergency action plan
includes access to first-aid oxygen.
AD
Oxygen First Aid
Preparedness
By Bill Ziefle
“Oxygen is so vitally important
that it should be readily available
wherever people are diving.”
10
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FALL 2015
FROM THE
SAFETY STOP
PERSPECTIVES