Can you help save a life

[shellmoundal]

After what happened this weekend I had to reflect on my own personal skill of life saving. As much as I hate to admit it I have no training in CPR. Being a cave diver I feel it should be a requirement for us to be able to perform CPR.
At the 2016 NSS/CDS Workshop there will be offered a class in CPR. I would suggest that if you are not trained in it that you sign up for the class. The cost is $20.00 and only one class will be offered. It is limited so sign up now on the CDS website.
I will be in the class and hope to see others in there with me. Who knows, I may save your life or you may save mine.

[floridabob]

"Being a cave diver I feel it should be a requirement for us to be able to perform CPR". Interesting.

Please put this into a logical example so I can understand your stance on how "being able to perform" would help or have helped....

This, I gotta hear.

Bob

[Kelly Jessop]

After what happened this weekend I had to reflect on my own personal skill of life saving. As much as I hate to admit it I have no training in CPR. Being a cave diver I feel it should be a requirement for us to be able to perform CPR.
At the 2016 NSS/CDS Workshop there will be offered a class in CPR. I would suggest that if you are not trained in it that you sign up for the class. The cost is $20.00 and only one class will be offered. It is limited so sign up now on the CDS website.
I will be in the class and hope to see others in there with me. Who knows, I may save your life or you may save mine.

I appreciate the CDS offering a CPR class,but considering there are times we are in the woods, or away from first responders,I would add first aid, and DAN O2 provider to the list of things important to be familiar with.

[oya]

Around 350,000 people a year are victim to sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital.

Compressions only CPR is effective about 10% of the time. Which seems like a low number, but...

That's 35,000 people. 35,000 people's families, loved ones, friends, and pets who are all positively impacted by the efforts of someone who is trained and practiced in CPR.

I teach a LOT of CPR classes and I absolutely feel that everyone should be current.

Whether it is going to help someone who has a problem 3000 feet back in a cave or not... obviously questionable. But someone who collapses walking a set of double 108s to waters edge...?

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the country which, by statistical extension, makes it the number one cause of death among cave divers. And aren't we supposed to be the ones who are most prepared? Most safety conscious?

Rock on, Al. Good call taking the course! Just remember "Staying Alive" is the perfect rhythm for 120BPM. (As is "Another One Bites the Dust," but I imagine which to sing depends on whether your personal glass is half empty or full.)

[oya]

I appreciate the CDS offering a CPR class,but considering there are times we are in the woods, or away from first responders,I would add first aid, and DAN O2 provider to the list of things important to be familiar with.

Look into the DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider program. It covers just about everything you could want under the umbrella of a single program.
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/t...g/courses/demp

But if you're going to piecemeal it: CPR, First Aid, Emergency O2, AED, and Field Neurological Assessment.

Edited to add:
DAN also puts out great sets of emergency management slates in every flavor that should be a part of just about everyone's first aid kit or in the car.

Also, to expand on Kelly's pointing out of the importance of emergency oxygen... while we all tend to have O2 at the dive site, there are some examples of where medical/constant flow O2 is more useful in an emergency than a demand valve.

[Kelly Jessop]

Cave divers for the most part are away from rapid response from first responders, and having the skills to provide help until professional help arrives is important. I agree that CPR, first aid, and DAN O2 are very good things,but understanding diving medical issues, and the proper response would be beneficial. I read that there was a diving incident at Ginnie where I am betting the person was exhibiting the chokes as part of pulmonary DCS, and this can require a fast response. Another thing, is the chamber situation in Florida is not reliable, and I have seen on two fairly recent occasions where the person didn't get the attention they needed rapidly enough,because the facility that has a chamber isn't recompressing divers. This goes way outside the scope of CDS workshop,but I for one would like training in IWR.

[Kelly Jessop]

Also, to expand on Kelly's pointing out of the importance of emergency oxygen... while we all tend to have O2 at the dive site, there are some examples of where medical/constant flow O2 is more useful in an emergency than a demand valve.

Good points. Continuous flow oxygen is great for an unconscious person, otherwise we are doing positive pressure ventilation with our demand valve regulator. We all generally have demand valve regulators and oxygen tanks,but knowing how to administer it is important. I have come across a couple DCS and AGE cave diving accidents where an oxygen regulator was being used,but nothing to occlude the nose from atmospheric air. Put on a dive mask, or use the handy cave diving clothes pin navigation marker. There is a story of a guy driving himself to the chamber with his dive mask on and an oxygen regulator in his mouth. His fast speed caused him to get stopped by the police, and when they saw what was happening, they let him go. Used to be a joke was to keep your mask and regulator by your side if you got caught speeding.

[MORGAN]

Everyone above the age of 12 or so should have the ability to perform CPR and render basic first aid.

[JCGoodwin]

I agree that all should be trained in basic first aid and CPR.
The simple fact is that most who were are not current on the actual cert.
To perform a rescue or in water tow rescue while in a cave is immensely difficult.
Ive been challenged to practice this by an instructor who later required me to do it for TriMix.
I will tell you it is challenging and the thought of performing CPR once you have exited is daunting.

I would do just that if it was required.
The key question to ask is, " Are you proficient at diver tow, and then perform CPR?"
It is physically draining to tow a diver any distance in a cave, hopefully you would have help but often times not the case.
Ive only been a part of several diver distress scenes only one in a cave it is something you want to be prepared for.
The worst possible thing you can do is in the way if others are involved but stay close to jump in and assist.
It can get physically overwhelming thats the time to pitch in.

Cave diving is a very demanding activity and can cause a variety of opportunities for health issues.
Be safe and fit for diving.

JCG

[TraceMalin]

Even though one of my divemaster students was a doctor we had him go through a Red Cross CPR, AED, O2, First Aid course. Two weeks after the course he was one of the primary rescuers in a tech diving fatality. He was thankful for having been put through training it was assumed he could easily do. Because it was fresh in his mind he felt it helped him stay calmer and do a better job. It was also easier on him psychologically (hard though because he lost a friend) to know he did his best. I guess the lesson there is that if a doctor found a refresher helpful none of us should ever take the easy way to a CPR card no matter how many times we've taken the course (such as signing one another off). Knowing you are prepared to handle such emergencies to the best of your abilities may also make it easier to come to terms with death when one's best efforts don't result in a life saved.