June 15, 2008
Safe Diving Reminder
Here's a reminder from Steve Clabuesch, Diving Safety Officer at UCSC, about maintaining safe diving protocols--Dida
photo of DK at Point Lobos courtesy Doug VanOmmeran
As everyone begins their work for the Summer it is imperative that every diver remembers that dive safety begins with the individual diver. Diving does have inherent risks and managing those risks is what prevents accidents. Risk management is every diver's and dive supervisor's number one job. And the risks begin above the water in the loading of gear and the use of vehicles, trailers and vessels - make sure you have proper training before driving vehicles, trailering vessels and operating boats.
Common incidents as new divers begin working and more experienced divers become complacent, tend toward poor air and decompression management and pushing the physical limits of one's diving capabilities. Below is a list of practices, that will help prevent diving accidents. I encourage everyone to review this list, and add to it, and share it with their divers. Make sure you have emergency contact information for all your divers at the dive site for every dive. Safety first, data second.
In the event of a suspected diving injury, contact your dive supervisor/leader and DAN (919-684-4326), begin oxygen therapy and prepare transportation to the nearest medical facility. Do not try to self-diagnosis without the help of DAN, they are your best resource to determine your course of treatment (or non-treatment). Make sure your DAN membership and insurance are current. Remember denial = delay = diminished recovery potential.
THE LIST:
Prior to diving be healthy, rested and hydrated.
Plan appropriate bottom times based on depth, depth certification and air consumption. And then stick to the plan.
Manage air and decompression conservatively - on the surface with no less than 500psi after each dive, never allow your dive computer time at depth to be less than 10 minutes - especially critical on repetitive dives.
Ensure you are entering the water with an amount of gas that is appropriate for the task as well as a sharing air contingency.
Slow ascents (30 feet/minute) with safety stops of at least 3 minutes if the dive was deeper than 18 feet (longer if dives were strenuous or exceptionally cold).
Use a deep stop for any dive deeper than 60 feet (a deep stop = on ascent, stopping at 1/2 your maximum dive depth for 1 minute, then proceeding to your safety stop).
Take at least a 1 hour surface interval between dives - each diver should know how to use the planning mode on their dive computer to ensure that 1 hour is sufficient.
Stay hydrated throughout the day and stay as warm as possible between dives.
Use proper lifting technique and get help when lifting heavy loads - diving is hard enough on our bodies, don't make it harder.
Log your dives weekly in order to retain their accuracy - the longer you wait, the shorter your memory.
Have a safe and productive field season - now go forth and count!!
Steve
Posted by Dida at June 15, 2008 9:05 AM
