Drinking and Diving

[Thalassamania]

Seems to me that Glen Egstrom showed me an article from the Chinese literature that suggested an elevated blood alcohol hastened offgassing.

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

in years of guiding and teaching all over the world and dealing with people from ALL countries, only a couple times have I witnessed a couple guys drinking a beer before diving. It was in Bali with some customers from Italy. Thats's about it. It was frowned upon then too! I think it is a common belief amongst almost all diver and dive clubs around the world that drinking before diving or being too hungover to dive is a BIG no-no!

 

[Gene_Hobbs]

Wow, did not expect this to turn into a REAL conversation when I posted the link to find the Somers paper. But since it has...

Seems to me that Glen Egstrom showed me an article from the Chinese literature that suggested an elevated blood alcohol hastened offgassing.

Nice, US literature, Chinese authors. YOU NEVER cease to amaze me.

Ethanol treatment for acute decompression sickness in rabbits.
Zhang et. al. 1989 Undersea Biomedical Research.
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2532

Editorial (on above paper):
Alcohol and bends
Eckenhoff. 1989 Undersea Biomedical Research.
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2723

and just for fun...
Nitrogen narcosis and ethyl alcohol increase the gain of the vestibular ocular reflex.
Hamilton et. al. 1989 Undersea Biomedical Research.
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2509

Effects of ethanol and amphetamine on inert gas narcosis in humans.
Fowler et. al. 1986 Undersea Biomedical Research.
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/3050

there are some others when you seach but these were some of the better articles.

 

[Thalassamania]

Thanks Gene ... Art and Glen came up with the refernce, I think Glen and Jim were just looking for an excuse to have a beer while Lee, Lloyd and I were looking down our noses at them.

 

[Rick Murchison]

In lay terms, looks to me like there's support for the "no harm (from a DCS standpoint) in post-dive alcohol consumption; maybe even some benefit!" position. I like that
** ALL cautions about pre-dive consumption remain in effect, however**
Rick

Wow, did not expect this to turn into a REAL conversation when I posted the link to find the Somers paper. But since it has...


Nice, US literature, Chinese authors. YOU NEVER cease to amaze me.

Ethanol treatment for acute decompression sickness in rabbits.
Zhang et. al. 1989 Undersea Biomedical Research.
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2532

Editorial (on above paper):
Alcohol and bends
Eckenhoff. 1989 Undersea Biomedical Research.
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2723

and just for fun...
Nitrogen narcosis and ethyl alcohol increase the gain of the vestibular ocular reflex.
Hamilton et. al. 1989 Undersea Biomedical Research.
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2509

Effects of ethanol and amphetamine on inert gas narcosis in humans.
Fowler et. al. 1986 Undersea Biomedical Research.
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/3050

there are some others when you seach but these were some of the better articles.

 

[Gene_Hobbs]

** ALL cautions about pre-dive consumption remain in effect, however**

Or do they? :blinking:

DOES ALCOHOL INTAKE ON THE PRECEDING NIGHT PREDISPOSE TO DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS IN RECREATIONAL DIVERS IN ORKNEY WATERS?
Trevett et. al. 2003 UHMS Abstract
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/1335

 

[Rick Murchison]

Or do they? :blinking:

Yeah, I think they do... as was stated in the second paper from your previous, drowning is still the big killer, and the affects of booze on judgement just don't mix well with the underwater world.
Rick

 

[Thalassamania]

Ain't information a pain? What to do, what to do?

 

[hollywood703]

Have you ever rode in a car withone who has had a drink? Ever drive yourself? Maybe not you but I'll bet a lot of divers clucking about the dangers of a beer on a surface interval are no stranger to having several beers at a bar and then driving home. Ya know, if you wanna drink and dive, you might be stupid and might become a statistic, but you aren't going to wipe out an innocent family. Let's keep some sense of relative risk here.

That said, I don't drink between or before dives as a matter of preference. I want to be hydrated and clear minded.

so, he couldnt realistically......have a problem.....and due to his stupor....flip out and take another diver out with him? Rip out a reg or hit/kick the buddy due to the panic...It can happen to a sober person, so it can happen with a drunk one.....And I work in Law Enforcement.....and know all too well about what devestation idiots who drive drunk cause.....Just because he cant take out a family doesnt mean he cant take out other divers.....

 

[Gene_Hobbs]

Yeah, I think they do... as was stated in the second paper from your previous, drowning is still the big killer, and the affects of booze on judgement just don't mix well with the underwater world.
Rick

Since Rick KNOWS I was kidding with my last post, thought I should clarify to everyone else. I like their rules on drinking before diving as well...