Dive accident at ABWA?

[bamamedic]

My boyfriend, who works as a paramedic in Hoover, mentioned that another ambulance responded to a dive accident at ABWA today (Saturday, Oct 25th). I was wondering, does anyone know what happened?

 

[SRT309]

The diver in question was a friend of a friend and I only have part of the details. The word I have so far is that the two divers lost contact at 100 ft and that my friend conducted his safety stop after unsuccessfully searching for his buddy. As he waited he heard something at the surface. He surfaced and found his buddy not breathing and minus his tank and BC. He gave rescue breathing and summoned help. The last information I have on the injured diver is that he is in stable condition in a deco chamber in Chattanooga. At some point they think he suffered a heart attack. It is unknown whether it was pre or post event. I'm going to dive there today. If I'll get anymore information, I'll post it.

 

[tep]

Hate to ask, but for those of us out of the area, what's "ABWA"?

 

[mike_s]

Hate to ask, but for those of us out of the area, what's "ABWA"?

ABWA is Alabama Blue Water Adventures. also called generically as Pelham quarry or just "Blue Water" or ABWA


People just call it ABWA as an abbreviation.


It's a quarry in Pelham, Alabama, which is just 15-20 minutes south of Birmingham.


their website is www.divealabama.com if you want to see more about them.

The last information I have on the injured diver is that he is in stable condition in a deco chamber in Chattanooga

thats interesting.... I'm really surprised they don't have a deco chamber in Birmingham at UAB (the largest hospital in the state). Chattanooga is a 3 hour drive away.

(of course it could be a staffing issue... meaning they didn't have it staffed saturday in B'ham... and they did in Chattanooga).


EDIT: yep, there's a chamber at UAB. also several others in B'ham
see http://www.scuba-doc.com/listchmbr.htm#Alabama_Facilities

but like I said, it might have been staffing issues as all chambers are not staffed or have on call 7x24.

 

[bigken462]

Most around here are mono and not suitable for diving injuries - although better than nothing. The only multi place (for patient and tender) chamber used for diving that I know of was at Carraway and according to the list Dothan. Carraway as you know closed it's doors tight the other day and went belly up bankrupt.

As Mike mentioned, some chambers are not staffed 24 hours. Not sure when he made it to the hospital, but the time of day or date itself could have been a factor. Too bad about Caraway going under, it took a level of safety out for many divers around here.

I'll shoot Lab Rat a note from TDS and see if UAB is making any plans to pick up the program. I would imagine in today's crappy economy that anyone would want to move a and start up a multi million dollar program.

Kenny

 

[SRT309]

I had a great dive today at Pelham. I even caught a turtle and we took a few pictures before I let him go.

I also got a few updates on the injured diver. They recovered all of his gear at about 100 ft. They ran him through the deco chamber again today just to be sure. He is expected to make a full recovery. I don't know quite how this process works, but I was told that he was being decertified. Apparently he panicked and headed for the surface.

There were instructors with other parties in the water and also a nurse and a doctor. They, along with his dive buddy, the staff, and the responding EMS personnel all did a great job. Fortunately this guy will make it. Unfortunately he will never dive again.

 

[mike_s]

.

I'll shoot Lab Rat a note from TDS and see if UAB is making any plans to pick up the program. I would imagine in today's crappy economy that anyone would want to move a and start up a multi million dollar program.

Kenny

I didn't know Carroway went under.... (I guess I don't see all the news on stuff).


As for UAB picking up their chamber business, for the most part I think that UAB is the "medical leader" in B'ham. they already have their own chamber, but it's monoplace. unless they want a bigger chamber, I don't see them changing things...

But as UAB being the "giant" in the industry, I doubt they will react with "ohhhh we need that" as they are already the "monster".


As for chambers and diving, I don't think that chambers really make any money off divers. Emergency chamber rides distrupt their normal treatment schedule and often divers don't have DAN or other insurance to cover it. That and they don't want to staff a rotation/on-call-duty for 7x24.... so I son't see UAB "jumping" to take over this line of business.

BTW... for other examples, the hospital in Pensacola announced last year that it would stop doing emergency chamber duty also, and they're on the ocean with lots of deeper Oriskany diving going on.

 

[bigken462]

So very true Mike. I left out an important word in my fatigued typing this evening. Should have been "I would imagine in today's crappy economy than no one would want to" etc. etc.

Back to the sofa. Sometimes it's not the chamber you need after the dive, but a cold beer and a soft, soft sofa!

Kenny

 

[bamamedic]

SRT309, thanks for the details...that's pretty much what I heard from my boyfriend. Glad your friend of a friend is going to be OK.

I didn't know someone could be "decertified". Ouch!

Kudos to the great folks at Regional Paramedic Services...sure the uniforms look silly (if you've ever seen them, you know exactly what I mean!) but they do know their stuff

 

[frankc420]

Decertified? lol. Sounds like the scuba police are knocking on his door!