spring’lake’dive’authorization’course’checklist’ · the spring lake dive authorization...

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Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course Checklist Before coming to Spring Lake for this course, please make sure that you have the following items to bring in: Paperwork Required: A photocopy of your Diving Certification; Required: Proof of 20 logged dives beyond training (a photocopy of the last page of your dive log is good enough); Required: Your 4 completed assessment quizzes; Required: Completed Liability waiver form Required: Completed Spring Lake Volunteer Agreement Form Required: Form of payment (The Meadows Center is able to accept, cash, check or credit cards); Required: Your completed PADI continuing education form Please note: Complete the Medical Statement making sure that you answer each item with either the word "Yes" or "No". Please make sure to write the complete word for each response. If you answer ‘Yes’ to any question on the Medical questionnaire, you MUST consult with a physician and receive clearance to take this course. If you do not have clearance you will only be able to participate in the classroom portion of the course and will not be allowed to dive until cleared. PADI Distinctive Specialty Certification If you wish to receive a PADI distinctive specialty certification for this course, you will need to pay a $50 processing fee in addition to the course fee. Make sure to bring your logbook so the instructor can sign it. Parking You will need to bring a credit card to purchase a parking pass if you are taking the class on a weekday. Passes are $3 for the entire day. The machine that dispenses the passes only takes credit cards and is located in the main parking area by the Glass Bottom Boat ticket booth. Food Please bring a picnic lunch and a refillable water bottle. Equipment Please make sure to bring your dive gear that is compliant with the Spring Lake Gear Wash Procedure: Remember, as a minimum a complete set of SCUBA gear must include: A buoyancy control device A lowpressure buoyancy control inflation system Suitable thermal protection for 70˚ water with appropriate weights A first stage and primary second stage An alternate second stage (octopus, necklace) A submersible pressure gauge A depth gauge A timing device A tank which has both a current annual inspection sticker and hydro test with enough breathing gas to accomplish your task and safely return two divers to the point of entry should there be an out of gas situation. Mask and fins (snorkels are optional) Dive planning/monitoring device (bottom timer, dive computer, dive tables) Gloves for underwater gardening We recommend that you bring two tanks so that you have plenty of air to dive with. The Meadows Center does not provide tank fills. Start Time and Classroom Location We will meet on the ground floor of Spring Lake Hall (the old Aquarena Springs Hotel) in the Meadows Center Conference Room. It is on the ground floor and is marked as room #107. We will start promptly at 9:00 am. Please plan on showing up at least 15 minutes early. We are generally done by 5:00 pm. If you have any questions please contact Taylor Heard the diving coordinator at: [email protected]

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Page 1: Spring’Lake’Dive’Authorization’Course’Checklist’ · The Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course SCUBA diving in Spring Lake, for any reason, is complicated due to the delicate

Spring  Lake  Dive  Authorization  Course  Checklist    Before  coming  to  Spring  Lake  for  this  course,  please  make  sure  that  you  have  the  following  items  to  bring  in:    Paperwork  

• Required:  A  photocopy  of  your  Diving  Certification;  • Required:  Proof  of  20  logged  dives  beyond  training  (a  photocopy  of  the  last  page  of  your  dive  log  is  good  enough);  • Required:  Your  4  completed  assessment  quizzes;  • Required:  Completed  Liability  waiver  form  • Required:  Completed  Spring  Lake  Volunteer  Agreement  Form  • Required:  Form  of  payment  (The  Meadows  Center  is  able  to  accept,  cash,  check  or  credit  cards);  • Required:  Your  completed  PADI  continuing  education  form  

• Please  note:    Complete  the  Medical  Statement  making  sure  that  you  answer  each  item  with  either  the  word  "Yes"  or  "No".  Please  make  sure  to  write  the  complete  word  for  each  response.  If  you  answer  ‘Yes’  to  any  question  on  the  Medical  questionnaire,  you  MUST  consult  with  a  physician  and  receive  clearance  to  take  this  course.    If  you  do  not  have  clearance  you  will  only  be  able  to  participate  in  the  classroom  portion  of  the  course  and  will  not  be  allowed  to  dive  until  cleared.  

 PADI  Distinctive  Specialty  Certification  If  you  wish  to  receive  a  PADI  distinctive  specialty  certification  for  this  course,  you  will  need  to  pay  a  $50  processing  fee  in  addition  to  the  course  fee.    Make  sure  to  bring  your  logbook  so  the  instructor  can  sign  it.    Parking  

• You  will  need  to  bring  a  credit  card  to  purchase  a  parking  pass  if  you  are  taking  the  class  on  a  weekday.    Passes  are  $3  for  the  entire  day.    The  machine  that  dispenses  the  passes  only  takes  credit  cards  and  is  located  in  the  main  parking  area  by  the  Glass  Bottom  Boat  ticket  booth.  

 Food  

• Please  bring  a  picnic  lunch  and  a  refillable  water  bottle.    Equipment  Please  make  sure  to  bring  your  dive  gear  that  is  compliant  with  the  Spring  Lake  Gear  Wash  Procedure:  Remember,  as  a  minimum  a  complete  set  of  SCUBA  gear  must  include:  

• A  buoyancy  control  device  • A  low-­‐pressure  buoyancy  control  inflation  system  • Suitable  thermal  protection  for  70˚  water  with  appropriate  weights  • A  first  stage  and  primary  second  stage  • An  alternate  second  stage  (octopus,  necklace)    • A  submersible  pressure  gauge  • A  depth  gauge  • A  timing  device  • A  tank  which  has  both  a  current  annual  inspection  sticker  and  hydro  test  with  enough  breathing  gas  to  accomplish  

your  task  and  safely  return  two  divers  to  the  point  of  entry  should  there  be  an  out  of  gas  situation.  • Mask  and  fins  (snorkels  are  optional)  • Dive  planning/monitoring  device  (bottom  timer,  dive  computer,  dive  tables)  • Gloves  for  underwater  gardening  

 • We  recommend  that  you  bring  two  tanks  so  that  you  have  plenty  of  air  to  dive  with.    The  Meadows  Center  does  

not  provide  tank  fills.    Start  Time  and  Classroom  Location  We  will  meet  on  the  ground  floor  of  Spring  Lake  Hall  (the  old  Aquarena  Springs  Hotel)  in  the  Meadows  Center  Conference  Room.    It  is  on  the  ground  floor  and  is  marked  as  room  #107.    We  will  start  promptly  at  9:00  am.    Please  plan  on  showing  up  at  least  15  minutes  early.    We  are  generally  done  by  5:00  pm.    If  you  have  any  questions  please  contact  Taylor  Heard  the  diving  coordinator  at:  [email protected]  

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The Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course

SCUBAdivinginSpringLake,foranyreason,iscomplicatedduetothedelicatenatureofthe environment. Declared a "Critical Habitat" in 1980, Spring Lake is home to eightfederally listedspeciesandisgovernedbytherulesandregulationsoftheEndangeredSpeciesActof1973.Inaddition,SpringLakeisregisteredasanArchaeologicalsiteandisprotectedbytheAntiquitiesCodeofTexas.Consequently,therearelimitstorecreationaldivinginSpringLake.TheSpringLakeDiveAuthorizationCourseisdesignedtosensitizedivers to the unique environment of Spring Lake and the safety protocols andprocedures in place to ensure protection of the environment, cultural resourcesanddiversafety.Uponsuccessfulcompletionofthiscourse,diversare authorized to comeback and dive as volunteer divers for the Meadows Center for Water and theEnvironment.

CourseDescription:� TheSpringLakeDiveAuthorizationCourseisdividedinto4takehomeAcademicModules

andassessmentquizzesthataretobecompletedbyeachstudentpriortotheclassstart.� Course Duration: 1 day, plus time necessary to complete take home modules and

assessments(~4hours).� StudentswillmeetforonefulldayatSpringLakewheretheassessmentquizzeswillbe

reviewed,divingskillswillbeassessed,a tourof thespringswillbegivenandcommonvolunteertaskswillbedemonstrated.

� This course isPASS/FAIL. Studentsmust scoreat least70%oneachof theassessmentquizzes and demonstrate that they are competent divers (good buoyancy control andsituationalawareness)topassthecourse.

� Thereisaminimumof4andamaximumof16studentsallowedpercourse.� WerecommendthatDiveShops/CenterssendstudentsthathavecompletedAdvanced

Divertraining,and/oraspecialtycourseinbuoyancycontrol.�

RequirementsfortakingtheSpringLakeAuthorizationCourse� Show proof of a Full Open Water SCUBA Certification through a major Dive

TrainingAgency;� Beatleast15yearsofageatthetimeoftakingthecourse;� Showproofofaminimumof20loggeddivesbeyondtheirtrainingdives;� Studentsmustprovidetheirownequipmentincludingtanksandweights;� PaytheCoursefeeof$230.00(*)(**)� Studentsmustcompleteandturninallrequiredpaperwork.

*If fees for thecoursearetobepaid thruanOrganization;GrouporDepartment, theLeadSupervisorortheResponsibleOrganizationshouldmaketherequest.**TexasStatestudents,facultyandstaffreceivea50%discountNote:Trainingwillusuallytakeplaceonweekends;however,itcanbeconductedduringtheweekaswellwithaminimumof4divers.

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Schedule for Dive Authorization Course (times subject to change)

9 am – 9:30 am Meet in Spring Lake Hall 107 (Old Hotel, Ground Floor) Conference Room.

• Fill in forms • Introductions (10 min)

9:30 am - 10:30 am

• Glass bottom boat tour of Spring Lake • Surface Orientation to the Site

o Review volunteer sign in procedures o Review procedures for parking, loading, and unloading o Location of restrooms, changing areas o Review use of push carts and yellow tank covers

• Pay for course at ticket kiosk 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

• Presentation on Meadows Center (20 minutes, PowerPoint) • Review Hydrology, Archaeology and Biology Quizzes (1 hour) • Visit the Meadows Centers Discovery Hall

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

• Lunch in Classroom • Review Spring Lake Dive Accident Management Plan (15 min) • Review Diving Safety Quiz • Overview of in-water skills and springs tour (PowerPoint 30 min)

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Gear Prep/Dive Site Access Briefing

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Dive Group A In-water assessment and task demonstration in Training Area Group B Stand by on surface

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Dive Group A Springs Tour Training Area Group B In-water assessment and task demonstration in Training Area

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Breakdown Gear Extra time in training area if necessary

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                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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SPRING LAKE DIVE ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Address for Spring Lake Ticket Kiosk 201 San Marcos Springs Drive

San Marcos, Texas 77666 General Procedures Depending on the nature of the accident:

• Stabilize the victim, administer first aid, ABC’s and high flow O2 if appropriate; • Dial 911 to initiate the Emergency Medical System (EMS) for transport to the closest

medical facility; • Alert the Meadows Center’s Ticket Booth/Person in Charge (PIC) at (512) 245-7590 so

they may direct EMS to the victim. Evaluate and monitor the victim until EMS arrives. What is a diving accident? A diving accident victim could be any person who has been breathing compressed breathing gas (e.g. air, Nitrox, Trimix) underwater regardless of depth. It is essential that emergency procedures and medical treatment be initiated as soon as possible. Accidents may also occur outside of the water as divers begin or end a dive (e.g. heat stroke, heat exhaustion, sprains, breaks, cuts etc.). Decompression Illness (DCI) describes a collection of symptoms arising from decompression (pressure changes) of the body. DCI is caused by two different mechanisms, Decompression Sickness (DCS) and Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE). The signs and symptoms of DCI are listed on page 8 of this document. This Dive Accident Management plan is specific to Spring Lake located in San Marcos, Texas and contemplates the following four scenarios:

1. Conscious and alert SCUBA diving accident victim 2. Unconscious and non-responsive SCUBA diving accident victim 3. Conscious and alert non-SCUBA related accident victim 4. Unconscious and non-responsive non-SCUBA related victim

The Meadows Center follows the Diver Alert Networks (DAN) recommendation to get the victim to the nearest medical care facility immediately, even if DCI is suspected (see page 10 of this document for clarification). A good resource for any questions on diving related injuries is DAN’s Emergency Hotline at 1-919-684-9111. It is critical that the circumstances of the dive incident are clearly explained to the evacuation teams, medics and physicians. If DCI is suspected, stress to first responders that this is a SCUBA diving accident. Do not assume that first responders understand why 100% oxygen may be required for the diving accident victim or that recompression treatment may be necessary. Location of emergency supplies at Spring Lake: Emergency supplies are located in the Dive Locker next to the Ticket Kiosk. Emergency Oxygen and First Aid Kit are in the restroom under the sink, our 2 Backboards are located above the lockers. The Meadows Center Person in Charge has the keys to open this room. Diving Instructors bringing students for any training at Spring Lake are required to have First Aid Kit and Emergency Oxygen with them at all times.

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                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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SCENARIO #1

CONSCIOUS AND ALERT SCUBA DIVING ACCIDENT VICTIM

1. Make appropriate contact with victim or rescue as required 2. If spinal injury is suspected, move the victim only if necessary 3. Evaluate victim’s Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABC’s) 4. Administer 100% oxygen if DCI is suspected or if it is a near drowning 5. Call 911 (SEE SCRIPT BELOW)

a. Stay on the line with dispatcher until EMS personnel arrive or until dispatcher tells you to hang up

6. Alert ticket booth/person in charge at 512-245-7590 so that they can meet and direct EMS to the accident scene.

7. Evaluate and monitor victim until EMS arrives a. Gather as much information about the dive as possible (See MEDEVAC form

page 7) b. Interview victim’s buddy for additional information c. Secure the victim’s dive gear for examination (Do not disassemble gear or

exhaust any breathing gas from the system) Transport dive computers and logbook with the victim.

8. If DCI, or any other type of pressure related injury is suspected keep the victim on their back (Do not raise their legs)

9. Place the victim on their side if feeling nauseated or vomiting. Keep the airway clear. 10. If possible keep victim in the shade 11. Await the arrival of EMS personnel

Script for EMS 911 call: Hello my name is ________________, I am at 201 San Marcos Springs Drive San Marcos, Texas 77666. We have a SCUBA diver emergency involving (give divers name), the diver is conscious and alert and has the following injuries (list injuries). NOTE: If DCI is suspected, stress that this is a SCUBA diving accident, not just a diving accident. A good resource for any questions on diving related injuries is DAN’s Emergency Hotline at 1-919-684-9111. If helicopter transport is needed, use the following coordinates: 29˚53’33.57”N, 97˚55’53.51”W If a DCI patient is transported by helicopter, advise the helicopter crew to maintain low level (<1000 ft.) altitude.

Page 6: Spring’Lake’Dive’Authorization’Course’Checklist’ · The Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course SCUBA diving in Spring Lake, for any reason, is complicated due to the delicate

                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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SCENARIO #2

UNCONSCIOUS AND NON-RESPONSIVE SCUBA DIVING ACCIDENT VICTIM

1. Make appropriate contact with victim or rescue as required 2. Assume spinal injury if unconscious or altered mental status. 3. Evaluate victim’s Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABC’s) 4. Start CPR (if required) 5. Call 911 (SEE SCRIPT BELOW)

a. Stay on the line with dispatcher until EMS personnel arrive or until dispatcher tells you to hang up

6. Alert ticket booth/person in charge at 512-245-7590 so that they can meet and direct EMS to the accident scene.

7. Evaluate and monitor victim until EMS arrives a. Gather as much information about the dive as possible (see MEDEVAC form

(page 7) b. Interview victim’s buddy for additional information c. Secure the victim’s dive gear for examination (Do not disassemble gear or

exhaust any breathing gas from the system) Transport dive computers and logbook with the victim.

8. If DCI, or any other type of pressure related injury is suspected keep the victim on their back (Do not raise their legs)

9. If possible keep victim in the shade 10. Await the arrival of EMS personnel

Script for EMS 911 call: Hello my name is ________________, I am at 201 San Marcos Springs Drive San Marcos, Texas 77666. We have a SCUBA diver emergency involving (give divers name), the diver is unconscious and non-responsive and has the following injuries (list injuries). NOTE: If DCI is suspected, stress that this is a SCUBA diving accident, not just a diving accident. A good resource for any questions on diving related injuries is DAN’s Emergency Hotline at 1-919-684-9111. If helicopter transport is needed, use the following coordinates: 29˚53’33.57”N, 97˚55’53.51”W If a DCI patient is transported by helicopter, advise the helicopter crew to maintain low level (<1000 ft.) altitude.

Page 7: Spring’Lake’Dive’Authorization’Course’Checklist’ · The Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course SCUBA diving in Spring Lake, for any reason, is complicated due to the delicate

                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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SCENARIO #3

CONSCIOUS AND ALERT NON-SCUBA DIVING ACCIDENT VICTIM

1. Make appropriate contact with victim or rescue as required 2. If spinal injury is suspected, move the victim only if necessary 3. Evaluate victim’s Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABC’s) 4. Call 911 (SEE SCRIPT BELOW)

a. Stay on the line with dispatcher until EMS personnel arrive or until dispatcher hangs up

5. Alert ticket booth/person in charge at 512-245-7590 so that they can meet and direct EMS to the accident scene.

6. Evaluate and monitor victim until EMS arrives a. Gather as much information about the accident as possible (See MEDEVAC form

page 7) b. Interview victim’s buddy for additional information

7. Place the victim on their side if feeling nauseated or vomiting. Keep the airway clear. 8. If possible keep victim in the shade 9. Await the arrival of EMS personnel

Script for EMS 911 call: Hello my name is ________________, I am at 201 San Marcos Springs Drive San Marcos, Texas 77666. We have a medical emergency involving (give victims name), the victim is conscious and alert and has the following injuries (list injuries). If helicopter transport is needed, use the following coordinates: 29˚53’33.57”N, 97˚55’53.51”W

Page 8: Spring’Lake’Dive’Authorization’Course’Checklist’ · The Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course SCUBA diving in Spring Lake, for any reason, is complicated due to the delicate

                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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SCENARIO #4

UNCONSCIOUS AND NON-RESPONSIVE NON-SCUBA DIVING ACCIDENT VICTIM

1. Make appropriate contact with victim or rescue as required 2. Assume spinal injury if unconscious or altered mental status. 3. Evaluate victim’s Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABC’s) 4. Start CPR (if required) 5. Call 911 (SEE SCRIPT BELOW)

a. Stay on the line with dispatcher until EMS personnel arrive or until dispatcher hangs up

6. Alert ticket booth/person in charge at 512-245-7590 so that they can meet and direct EMS to the accident scene.

7. Evaluate and monitor victim until EMS arrives a. Gather as much information about the accident as possible (see MEDEVAC form

page 7) b. Interview victim’s buddy for additional information

8. If possible keep victim in the shade 9. Await the arrival of EMS personnel

Script for EMS 911 call: Hello my name is ________________, I am at 201 San Marcos Springs Drive, Texas 77666. We have a medical emergency involving (give victims name), the victim is unconscious and non-responsive and has the following injuries (list injuries). If helicopter transport is needed, use the following coordinates: 29˚53’33.57”N, 97˚55’53.51”W

Page 9: Spring’Lake’Dive’Authorization’Course’Checklist’ · The Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course SCUBA diving in Spring Lake, for any reason, is complicated due to the delicate

                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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Emergency Contact Numbers

Local Emergency Telephone Numbers All Emergencies – 911 Texas State University Police Department – 512- 245-2805 San Marcos Fire Department – 512-805-2660 Central Texas Medical Center Emergency Department – 512-753-3516 Central Texas Medical Center – 512-353-8979 San Marcos Area Rescue Team (SMART)

§ 512-353-1671 (dispatch) § 512-754-7963 (South Hayes FD)

Meadows Center Person in Charge Ticket Booth (512) 245-7590 Emergency Transportation Hays County EMS – 911 Life Flight – 888-303-9112 Starflight - 800-531-7827 • Spring Lake Training Area Landing Zone: 29˚53’33.57”N, 97˚55’53.51”W Divers Alert Network Emergency Hotline +1-919-684-9111 Non-Emergency Medical Information +1-919-684-2948 Nearest Hospital Facility Central Texas Medical Center 1301 Wonder World Drive San Marcos, TX 78666 Telephone: (512) 353-8979

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                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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Post Accident Reporting Sheet

Date:

Time:

Patient Information

Name: Date of Birth: Age: Sex: Blood type:

Divers Alert Network (DAN) Insurance #: Medical Insurance #: Emergency Contact: Emergency Contact Relation: Medications:

Patient Vital Signs:

Airway (check appropriate choice) � Obstructed � Open � Gurgling

Respirations (check appropriate choice) � Normal � Shallow � Deep � None* is CPR being conducted?

Pulse (check appropriate choice) � Normal � Weak � Pounding � None* is CPR being conducted?

Other signs and symptoms (check appropriate choice) � Conscious? � Convulsions? � Vomiting? � Shock? � Bleeding? � Paralysis? � Tingling? � Joint pain?

Dive information

# of dives today? _________________ Buddy’s Name______________________ Breathing mixture? _______________ Buddy’s Contact Info. ________________________ Average depth? _______________ Maximum depth? _______________ Bottom time? _______________ Any dives in the previous 24 hours? ___ __ Comments: ______________________ ___

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                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

8  

The Signs and Symptoms of SCUBA diving (pressure related) injuries

Decompression Illness (DCI) describes a collection of symptoms arising from decompression (pressure changes) of the body. DCI is caused by two different mechanisms, Decompression Sickness (DCS) and Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE). If either DCS or AGE is suspected the best course of action is the administration of oxygen.

Decompression Sickness (DCS) Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE)

Signs

Skin rash Bloody froth from mouth or nose

Paralysis, muscle weakness Paralysis or weakness

Difficulty in urinating Convulsions

Confusion, personality changes, bizarre behavior Unconsciousness

Loss of memory, tremors No breathing

Staggering Death

Collapse or unconsciousness

Symptoms

Fatigue Dizziness

Skin itch Blurring of Vision

Pain in joints or muscles Areas of decreased sensation

Dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears Chest pain

Numbness, tingling and paralysis Disorientation

Shortness of breath

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                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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The Diver Alert Networks recommendation for DCI victim positioning The consensus on the ideal posture for an injured diver has changed over the years and, unfortunately, many training materials for emergency medical technicians do not reflect these trends. The following observations challenge the advice to place an injured diver in the Trendelenburg position (left lateral recumbent): • It is often difficult to distinguish Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism (CAGE) from cerebral

Decompression Sickness (DCS); • Significant Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE) probably occurs in DCS by arterialization of venous

bubbles. A head-down position increases venous return; • In the smaller vessels, bubbles trapped in circulation will travel with blood flow without regard

to posture; • A prolonged head-down position increases cephalic venous volumes and compromises

subsequent middle ear equalization, necessary in recompression therapy; • The Trendelenburg position limits resuscitation; • Studies show that the recovery of brain function is slower in those positioned head-down than

those horizontal (Dutka 1990). In summary, according to DAN’s Senior Medical Advisor, Dr. Richard Moon, there may be benefit in a transient head-down posture for divers with arterial bubbles, but the balance of opinion and data favors a horizontal position. If the diver is unconscious or vomiting, or if the diver's upper airway is compromised, place them laterally recumbent, either left or right, so that the airway can be effectively managed. Divers who are experiencing neurological symptoms of decompression illness must not be allowed to sit up until inside a recompression chamber. This information is taken directly from the Divers Alert Network Website: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/Proper_Position_for_Emergency_Care_

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                                       The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment   Dive Accident Management Plan Updated: May 2015

 

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The Diver Alert Networks recommendation for getting a DCI patient to a medical

care facility immediately, and NOT to a hyperbaric chamber. DAN frequently consults on the care, transport and hyperbaric treatment of injured divers but does not provide chamber location information. This is an effort to get divers with a suspected decompression illness into hospital care. In the past, divers would often drive past legitimate health-care facilities to get to a recompression chamber. Even when divers surface with clear symptoms of an arterial gas embolism, the treatment of choice is the local emergency service and hospital. Your best option is to use existing emergency services for an injured diver. The reasons:

• Hospitals and urgent-care facilities have an unlimited supply of oxygen, intravenous fluids and medications.

• A physician/emergency care provider needs to rule out other illness such as pneumothorax (collapsed lung), myocardial infarction (heart attack), and neurological and musculoskeletal injuries with symptoms similar to DCI.

• An injured patient needs to be stabilized before and during transport and should be transferred under medical supervision.

• Transporting a diver without a proper evaluation may adversely affect the diver's health and treatment outcome.

• A chamber's operational status can change. Chambers may close for scheduled maintenance, staff vacation or a limited staff because of a high daytime patient treatment load. The chamber you are driving to may not be available. Prior notification from an evaluating facility is usually necessary to begin the call-in procedure to staff a hyperbaric treatment. Finally, most hyperbaric facilities have regular daytime business hours and are not staffed in the evenings and on weekends. In fact, some chamber facilities choose not to staff their unit after hours and do not wish to treat divers. Most cases of decompression sickness report for evaluation after normal business hours.

If you suspect a diver has a dive-related injury and needs evaluation, you should safely:

• Monitor airway, breathing, circulation • Provide 100 percent oxygen if you are a trained oxygen provider. • Call the local EMS for transport or assist in the transport of the injured diver to medical

care. • Call the DAN Emergency Hotline at +1-919-684-9111 (emergencies can call collect) for

consult and advice. If you are uncertain about symptoms that occur hours or days after diving, and there is no emergency, or you wish to ask questions about the signs and symptoms of decompression illness, contact the DAN Information Line at +1-919-684-2948, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.  This information is taken directly from the Divers Alert Network Website: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/Why_DAN_Does_not_Provide_Chamber_Location_Information

Page 14: Spring’Lake’Dive’Authorization’Course’Checklist’ · The Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course SCUBA diving in Spring Lake, for any reason, is complicated due to the delicate

1. CRATER BOTTOM2. WEISSMULLER SPRING3. DIVERSION4. DIVE TRAINING AREA5. CREAM OF WHEAT 6. OSSIFIED FOREST7. RIVERBED8. CATFISH HOTEL9. DEEP HOLE10.SHINER ARCHAEOLOGY SITE11. KETTLEMAN’S SPRINGS

A. PARKING LOT / PARKING TICKET STATIONB. DIVE MUSTER AREA / CARTS & SUITS C. TICKET KIOSK / RESTROOMSD. MAIN OFFICE / CONFERENCE ROOME. BUS LOOP PARKING

LAKE LOCATIONS LAND LOCATIONS

DIVE ACCESS POINTS

AC

B

D

TRAINING AREA SYCAMORE POINT

E

25m 75m50m0m 100m

25m 50m0m

0ft 100ft 200ft

0ft 100ft 200ft 300ft 400ft

OUTBOUND

RECIPROCAL

0°NORTH

HEADING

270˚90˚

SPRING LAKE DIVE SITES

Page 15: Spring’Lake’Dive’Authorization’Course’Checklist’ · The Spring Lake Dive Authorization Course SCUBA diving in Spring Lake, for any reason, is complicated due to the delicate

Driving Directions to The Meadows Center

The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment 201 San Marcos Springs Drive, San Marcos TX 78666

512.245.9200 | www.MeadowsWater.org | [email protected]

• From IH-35, take exit (206) and travel west from the light on Aquarena Springs Drive.

• Travel through 2 stop lights. Stay in right lane to avoid Loop 82 overpass.

• Go over the railroad crossing and use the left lane to turn left at Bobcat Drive/Post Road.

• Turn right on San Marcos Springs Drive/W Laurel Street (across from Bobcat Stadium).

• Follow the signs to The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.

• All vehicles must display a valid Texas State parking permit from 7:00pm Sunday until 5:00pm Friday. One-day temporary permits are available for $3 at the kiosk located near the ticket booth. The kiosk only accepts credit and debit cards. Those with Texas State University parking permits may park here without a visitor permit at all other times.