Introduction

USF Scuba Rescue Diver• The Chief Goal of NAUI Worldwide

Rescue Training.• The Scuba Rescue Diver Course:

– Prerequisites– Your obligations

• The Advanced Scuba Diver Course:

Unit 1

The “Zero Accident” Goal• Incident vs. Accident• Rescue• Self Rescue• Assisting Another Diver• The Right Response

Incident vs. Accident

• The two categories of diving problems:– Diving incidents– Diving accidents

Rescue

• The Definition of a rescue:• What is expected of a Scuba Rescue

Diver?• Preventing a diving incident:

Self-Rescue

• The first step in reducing the risks of diving and preventing diving accidents:

• Self rescue skills include:• STOP! Breathe, THINK, Breathe,

ACT!

Assisting Another Diver

• The most common “rescue”:• Never exceed your training.• After the dive:

The Right Response

• Not all diving incidents can be solved easily or quickly.

• The response process:• The duty to respond:

– If you decide to respond:– Your performance:

The “Zero Accident” Goal End of Unit 1• Incident vs. Accident• Rescue• Self Rescue• Assisting Another Diver• The Right Response

Unit 2

Acting in an Emergency• Critical Incident Stress• Overcoming Fear• Leadership Issues

Critical Incident Stress

• A rescuer will invariably face stress:

• Methods to reduce stress:– Formal– Informal

• Unchecked critical incident stress:

Overcoming Fear

• Fear is a natural consequence:• Maintaining your focus on the goal:• The unkindness of strangers:

– One of the biggest problems facing the rescuer:

– Confrontation with bystanders:

Leadership Issues

• Diving Leaders who organize or supervise:

• The concept of duty:

Acting in an Emergency End of Unit 2• Critical Incident Stress• Overcoming Fear• Leadership Issues

Unit 3

Diving Readiness• The Assumption of Risk• Self-Awareness and Buddy Assessment• Fitness to Dive• Absolute Contraindications• Temporary Contraindications• Sub-Related Contraindications• Relative Contraindications• Congenital Defects• Physical Fitness for Diving Safety

The Assumption of Risk

• Recreational diving is not regulated by civil authority.

• Who should be allowed or encouraged to participate?

• As a certified diver, your right to plan and execute a dive.

Self Awareness and Buddy Assessment• Deciding whether or not to

participate begins with self-assessment.

• Some questions to ask yourself:• Your ability to be a good buddy:

Fitness to Dive

• There are some people who cannot dive:– Absolute contraindications– Temporary contraindications– Relative contraindications

Absolute Contraindications• Asthma• Tuberculosis• Emphysema• Chronic Bronchitis

Absolute Contraindicationscontinued• Diabetes• Epilepsy• Angina Pectoris• Myocardial Infraction• Coronary Artery Disease

Temporary Contraindications• Pregnancy• Earache, Respiratory Infections and

Common Colds• Medications• Seasickness

Sub-Related Contraindications• Alcohol• Tobacco• Over-the-Counter Medications• “Recreational” Drugs• Food

Relative Contraindications• Persons with Disabilities• Heart Disease and Hypertension• Chronic or Temporary Physical

Problems and Pain

Congenital Defects

• Allergies• Obesity• Mental Stability

Physical Fitness for Diving Safety• Diet• Rest

Diving Readiness End of Unit 3• The Assumption of Risk• Self-Awareness and Buddy Assessment• Fitness to Dive• Absolute Contraindications• Temporary Contraindications• Sub-Related Contraindications• Relative Contraindications• Congenital Defects• Physical Fitness for Diving Safety

Unit 4

Preparing to Dive

• Training• Required Equipment• Technical Diving• Alternate Breathing Gases and Mixtures• Overhead Environments• Planning and Preparing for Successful Dives• Dive Planning• Your First Aid Kit• Signals• Emergency Procedures

Training

• To be the most effective:• Having your own equipment:• “Task Loading”

Required Equipment

• Certain items are universally required for safer diving:– Buoyancy Compensator– Diving Instruments– Alternate Air Source

• Specialized needs:

Technical Diving

• Technical diving is the term used to describe:

• This type of diving requires specialized training and equipment.

• Deep air exposure:

Alternate Breathing Gases and Mixtures• The chief goal of using

different inert gases:• Nitrox and

oxygen-enriched air diving:

Overhead Environment

• Overhead environments are those with restricted access to the surface.– These include:

• Avoid all overhead environments unless:

Planning and Preparing for Successful Dives• There is no substitute for advanced

planning.• Choosing the site:• Equipment preparation:

Dive Planning

• Dive planning includes:• Depth, duration and air

consumption planning:• Emergency planning:

Your First Aid Kit

• Some basic items include:• Oxygen administration equipment:

Signals

• Buddy briefings:• Dive plan coordination:• Mutual gear check:

Emergency Procedures

• Out of air emergency:• Lost buddy procedure:

Preparing to Dive End of Unit 4• Training• Required Equipment• Technical Diving• Alternate Breathing Gases and Mixtures• Overhead Environments• Planning and Preparing for Successful Dives• Dive Planning• Your First Aid Kit• Signals• Emergency Procedures

Unit 5

Reducing Common Diving Risks• Judgment Problems• Proper Training• Preventing Problems• Common Equipment

Problems• Ballast Systems• Environmental

Hazards• Weather Related

Problems• Musculoskeletal

Problems

• General Underwater Hazards

• Water Hazards• Natural and Artificial

Hazards• Freshwater Issues• Overhead

Environments• Improper Breathing

Techniques• A Final Word

Judgment Problems

• Evaluating your personal diving fitness:

• Managing your decisions: Peer pressure

Proper Training

• Passing vs. Proficient• Power vs. Mastery

Preventing Problems

• Equalization difficulties:• Squeezes and blocks:• Avoiding squeezes:• Avoiding blocks:• Equipment difficulties:

Common Equipment Problems• Mask and fin straps:• Buoyancy compensators:• Wetsuits:• Dry suits:

Ballast Systems

• Weight belts:• Integrated BC and ballast systems:• DUI weight system:• Trim:• Air delivery systems:

Environmental Hazards

• Each environment represents its own constellation of risk variables.

Weather Related Problems• Temperature torments:• Dehydration:• Sunburn:

Musculoskeletal Problems• Avoiding diving related

musculoskeletal problems:

General Underwater Hazards• Avoiding problems from cold:• Temperature problems:• Density issues:• Effort, fatigue and safety:• Narcosis:• Oxygen toxicity:

Water Hazards

• Water’s density:• Water contamination:

Natural and Artificial Hazards• Entanglement:• Ocean diving hazards:• Tidal current:• Rip and longshore currents:• Surf diving:• Surge:

Freshwater Issues

• Rivers:• Thermoclines:• Altitude diving:• Boating traffic:

Overhead Environments• Breathing related problems:

Improper Breathing Techniques• “Skip-breathing,” Shallow

breathing and Breath holding:• Coughing, sneezing, choking and

gagging:• Hyperventilation and “Shallow

water blackout”:

A Final Word

• Most Diving Problems are Preventable.

• As a NAUI Worldwide certified SRD or ASRD you must also assess, as appropriate to your level of training and role, the qualifications of those with whom you dive.

Reducing Common Diving Risks End of Unit 5 • Judgment Problems• Proper Training• Preventing Problems• Common Equipment

Problems• Ballast Systems• Environmental

Hazards• Weather Related

Problems• Musculoskeletal

Problems

• General Underwater Hazards

• Water Hazards• Natural and Artificial

Hazards• Freshwater Issues• Overhead

Environments• Improper Breathing

Techniques• A Final Word