Does anyone push their purge button on OOG drills?

[bamamedic]

I've had a few nasty coughing fits underwater, and I've had to hold the regulator in my mouth in order to be sure I didn't accidentally eject it during a coughing spell.

If I saw that happen to a buddy of mine, I'd attentively hover by and keep a close eye on him/her, I'd ask if he or she wanted to end the dive, and I'd offer any assistance needed.

I don't know what I would do if my buddy panicked on me...I think that if one was having a coughing spell, started to panic, and ejected the regulator...it would be pretty easy to inhale some water while coughing with no reg in one's mouth. Being underwater probably isn't the best place to be at that time...I'd ascend with the buddy, try to gain eye contact and I'd offer my regulator, but I woudn't force the diver to stay underwater.

On a related note, would any of you forcibly hold the regulator in your buddy's mouth if they were having a coughing spasm? I have had a frightening coughing attack while pretty deep. I had to put my hand over my reg to remind myself to keep it in my mouth regardless if I needed to puke or if I was gasping for air. The reg was delivering the air, but like NWGD, I guess my larynx had a spasm. If you saw this happening to your buddy, how would you proceed? What if that buddy were trying to bolt to the surface? (I didn't do that, but all the same it was very scary).