AED Use in Diving Emergencies

[peterbj7]

Perhaps all dive centers should have lie detectors, given how often divers lie about pre-existing medical conditions. Or perhaps a direct and provable lie like that should invalidate any dive insurance they have?

 

[danvolker]

Not really getting how better dive training will prevent v-fib from a heart attack.

I did not say it would. I said my belief is that MOST uses of an AED that could occur on a dive boat, would be from drowning. Training is a better way to fix that, than would be an AED.

If in fact I am wrong, and we have rampant heart attacks waiting to rain down on each dive boat, then the agencies need to mandate either cardiac testing every few years, or offer a release form indicating an absolute refusal on the part of the diver to be tested, and a release of all liability should a cardiac event occur due to a lack of testing.....you get the drift

 

[AfterDark]

I did not say it would. I said my belief is that MOST uses of an AED that could occur on a dive boat, would be from drowning. Training is a better way to fix that, than would be an AED.

If in fact I am wrong, and we have rampant heart attacks waiting to rain down on each dive boat, then the agencies need to mandate either cardiac testing every few years, or offer a release form indicating an absolute refusal on the part of the diver to be tested, and a release of all liability should a cardiac event occur due to a lack of testing.....you get the drift

The next person that leaves the doctors office after being given a clean bill of health, goes home and drops dead of a heart attack will not be the 1st. Being able to give someone a second chance at life seems to me to be worth the money, and here in the US the cost could be dealt with through the tax code as op expenses.

 

[openmindOW]

I would love to see AED's more widely spread in the diving community. .

I agree. However, I am not sure if the natural movement of a dive boat, even one with the engine off, might affect the AED's functioning.

 

[jar546]

I agree. However, I am not sure if the natural movement of a dive boat, even one with the engine off, might affect the AED's functioning.

They have worked for years in the back of fast moving, rocking ambulances, I don't see a big issue as long as the patches are securely in place and no one is touching the patient. I have used manual defibrillators in helicopters for years with no issues.

 

[retendokid]

So then technically you were not defibrillated, you were cardioverted. Each has very different indications and differs significantly in the amt of juice used, like 360 joules vs 50 joules. Im just clarifying, from one medical person to another.


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[retendokid]

It is a great idea if the proper training is provide for the situation in which it will be used. Sort of like on the wet sand of a beach. I have defibrillated many people in multiple situations such as in the rain, wet floors of bathrooms, in pools of blood and vomit, etc. It all comes down to situational awareness and training. So yes, it is a great idea.

I myself have been defibrillated so I know the value. For you medical personnel like me, I had synchronized cardioversion for rapid A-fib due to Grave's disease.

So then technically you were not defibrillated... Defibrillation and cardioversion have very different indications and differ significantly in the amt of juice used, like 360 joules vs 50 joules. Im just clarifying, from one medical person to another.


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[jar546]

So then technically you were not defibrillated... Defibrillation and cardioversion have very different indications and differ significantly in the amt of juice used, like 360 joules vs 50 joules. Im just clarifying, from one medical person to another.


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They both hurt, they both use joules, they both do the same thing except one method uses specific timing. Still defibrillation..... You say tomato I say tomato, 6 in one hand and a half a dozen in the other

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

Agreed. As a cardiologist I have both "cardioverted" and "defibrillated" my share of people over the past 25-30 years. It's the same machine -- the difference is for rhythms with an identifiable QRS complex you want to "synch" the shock at the correct time in the cardiac cycle to lessen the chance of putting someone into ventricular fibrillation. If they are already in ventricular fibrillation there is nothing to "synch" to so you turn that feature off and "defibrillate" them. The number of joules used depends on the rhythm, the size of the patient, .......

Just my 2 cents

Doug

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Agreed. As a cardiologist I have both "cardioverted" and "defibrillated" my share of people over the past 25-30 years. It's the same machine -- the difference is for rhythms with an identifiable QRS complex you want to "synch" the shock at the correct time in the cardiac cycle to lessen the chance of putting someone into ventricular fibrillation. If they are already in ventricular fibrillation there is nothing to "synch" to so you turn that feature off and "defibrillate" them. The number of joules used depends on the rhythm, the size of the patient, .......

Just my 2 cents

Doug

As an expert diver and cardiologist... do you think large, commercial dive boats should carry an AED as standard safety equipment?