Near Drowning: anyone who is involved in a near drowning should be hospitalized even if they appear fine as secondary drowning could occur

DCS FIRST AIDS

• Administer 100% oxygen and lay flat.
• The left side down. head-low position should be used only if highly suspected of suffering lung overexpansion injuries and discontinued after the first 20 minutes or if any discomfort occurs. Any doubt, don’t use it.

Never try in the water re-compression as the diver has to remain at depth for several hours and its unlikely the body can maintain the heat, and if the symptoms worsen to the point of needing medical assistance this would prove rather difficult. Victims also need various intravenous fluids and drugs during treatment.

FIRST AID FOR A NON BREATHING DIVER

The priority is provide regular rescue breaths on the surface. The preferred method for provide rescue breaths at the surface is mouth to pocket mask.

CPR = 2 breaths for every 15 compressions

Physiological
Physical

Panicked Diver on the surface will usually struggle with a deflated BCD, mask off, snorkel and/or regulator out of mouth.

React: Keep your regulator in place and establish positive buoyancy.

Symptoms:

• loss of consciousness, weakness and nausea
• mental confusion
• spreading numbness, paralysis
• severe pain
• local swelling, inflammation or welts
• cardiac arrest

First Aid of Venomous Marine Wounds:

• Immersion in hot water for at least 30-90 minutes after carefully removing foreign matter
• Jellyfish tentacles should be removed from wound with forceps or similar tool (do not rinse stinging cells with fresh water)
• Try to keep the victim positioned so the wound is below the level of the heart
• Treat for shock

• Go to the leeward side of the deck
• Look at the horizon
• Be out of exhaust fumes and in fresh air.

• Apply a dressing and direct pressure.
• If blood soaks through the dressing, maintain direct pressure and apply additional dressing over the first.

TEMPERATURE = Thermocline = Abrupt transition to distinctly cold water.

VISIBILITY = Principal Factors that affect visibility

• Water Movement
• Suspended particles
• Weather (example: excessive rainfall can reduce the visibility)
• Bottom Composition

WATER MOVEMENT = Currents = The 4 principal causes for currents are:

• wind blowing over the surface
• unequal heating/ cooling of the water
• tidal movement
• waves

BOTTOM COMPOSITION

AQUATIC LIFE

SUN

• Proper buoyancy control, wear no more weight than necessary.
• No touching
• Streamlined equipment

Waves break when the depth is about 1.3 times the same height as the wave.

Is created by waves passing overhead in shallow water.

CAUSES for currents:

1. wind blowing over the surface
2. unequal heating/ cooling of the water
3. tidal movement
4. waves

LONGSHORE CURRENT = when waves approach the shore at a slight angle, pushing water down the shoreline, so begin your dive up-current of exit.

RIP CURRENT = Water funneling back to sea through a narrow opening in a reef or sand bar.

Rip Currents are very strong and carry you away from the shore very quickly.
Identified by a line of turbid, foamy water moving seaward. If caught in one swim parallel to the shore.

UPWELLING = Slow moving current commonly caused by offshore winds pushing warm surface water away -as surface water moves out to sea deep water flows upward and takes its place.

This water is usually very clear and cold.

CAUSES: Are caused by the gravitational influence of the earth, the sun and the moon. The moon has the greater effect because it’s closer to the earth.

SLACK HIDE TIDE = When High Tide Peaks. It’s the ideal time to dive!

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE = South to North as Ocean Currents Flow anti-clockwise.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE = North to South as ocean currents flow clockwise.