Dive boat first aid kits

[ParamedicDiver1]

Licensure and certification: while certification with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is indeed a national level recognition, many states and even counties require you to be certified / licensed within that region to practice your skill. For example, Texas requires you to be state licensed or certified in order to work / volunteer at your skill level. Now, if you are an NREMT, it is an easy reprocity issue, but you still need to submit and be approved for the State C-Card. Then there is an additional problem with using your advanced care without protocols or direct medical control. If you were on a boat, in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, and a victim needed intubation, unless you have specific protocols, signed by a physician, you may be guilty of practicing medicine w/o a licnese if you sink that tube. Be sure you check with local authorities before attempting any advance skills.

PS...I get asked this a lot...the "LP" part of the signature is "Licensed Paramedic"

 

[erparamedic]

True, there are protocols to follow. The state in which I live will not give you a card unless you are an NREMTP... in fact there is not a "state test" that we must pass... everything reverts back to the national standards and tests. The national registry does all testing for anyone certified in Indiana. Indiana issues a card, BUT, only upon showing completion of the National requirements, again, no testing done at state level. I know it sounds confusing. I believe that the good sam laws should cover a person that practices skills in an emergency situation (as long as the skills are within the scope of practice)... that's what it's there for. You are correct though... it's a good idea to check with local authorities.

Personally....if an emergency arose, where I was diving, I would absolutely help as much as I possibly could.

 

[Petedives]

I'm suprised nobody's mentioned a good o2 kit with an o2 regulator w/ purge button
like the pricey kit DAN sells. For what they charge, I think it's a bit too expensive,
but a simpler demand regulator kit can be pieced together for far less than the $400
or so DAN resellers want.

I just finished my PADI Rescue Diver couse, and with that, we took the DAN
o2/advanced o2 classes, including giving rescue breaths with the purge button,
for DCI/DCS stuff, rapid o2 deployment to a breathing victim has significant
benefits.

I was poking around on ebay, and found a kit for around $299 that actually
included a cheapo constant flow valve/mask, but the rest of the kit isn't really
worth it.

EMT shears are also critical for a diving kit, IMHO.

Peter

 

[GIFCo147]

We've also been to the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, MD.(PARTY!! Hahaha!!).

I hear ya! I went to Firehouse Expo last year in Baltimore. Saturday night we were walking back from the Inner Harbor to our hotel, and heard a bunch of pipers. It turned out that the Irish Pub around the corner from the Hampton Inn had Emerald Society Bagpipers from DC playing in the alley. My Boys (age 6 & 4) loved it!

I also went to EMS Expo last year in New Orleans. I flew out the afternoon that Katrina hit. That was a story.

Some great questions have been raised. In the great lakes, you are in US or Canadian waters. But what if you are off shore (International Waters)? Could you not act to the level of your training, limited by the equipment available to you at the time of the incident? I might have to run that by the NYSDOH EMS folks.

I guess you could also keep a Medical Director or two on speed dial

Stephen

 

[Petedives]

After doing further research, the trick o2 setup is really like the one DAN sells, but
for less money, piecing together the same kit with 1 constant flow port that can do
0-25 lpm, and have two DISS ports on it, DAN's kit is pretty well consistent with qty
1 prices for the LSP MVP-100 and a killer 1st stage regulator.

I wonder if we could get a group buy for some killer resuscitator kits like that going
with people on Scubaboard who have the appropriate level of training either via
DAN or some random medical supplier?

Peter

 

[Tom Smedley]

Your agency attests that you have knowlege and have passed a test.
Your state/county grants you a license.
Your state/county says that you have permission to do this and that
Your company credentials you to perform certain tasks.

I still don't think that someone out of their jurisdiction has the authority to order drugs, drop a tube, and start and IV. Also, just because you are a - for example - physician does not mean that you have the skills to say drop a tube, especially in field expedient conditions.

Basic life support and turn it over to the Coasties is in my book the best answer.