Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning

[Russjstewart]

This is tragic but worth watching for anyone who is around water, if only to see how quickly someone can drown

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

Yes, it can be scary… many times seconds count and chaotic situations make things even worse.

 

[billgraham]

Surfing, I have an advantage because I just slide off the board and push it to them. With no board, you are the flotation device, and they will try to climb on your head. If that happens, go underwater, that's the last place they want to go. Panicked divers --- I'll defer to Edd Sorenson on how to handle it.

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

Yes, part of my DM training prerequisites. Passing a certified ‘Lifesaving’ course as well as first aid and CPR. All separate from the PADI DM course. Panicking victims will fight to stay above water to survive before wearing themselves out…

 

[D_B]

Yes, in my PADI Rescue Class I tried going down to approach the "drowning victim" from underneath , but, my instructor made it harder by turning to face me , and because I was not directly underneath him I had a circle to swim while he only had to pivot in place .. wore me completely out .. I still think that is the proper approach as the panicked person is not likely to follow your bubbles or to even see you EDIT I see I already posted this to this thread .. I'll add that I now know that perfectly under them may be best because you can come up behind them no matter which way they turn, activate their inflator, and/or ditch their weights too if the inflator doesn't work

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

….vigilance pays. Sometimes staying below or having a ‘decoy’diver can give you the advantage you need to get control of a situation. Grabbing a tank valve firmly and BCD may be just what is needed…of course from behind…..& expect a rough rodeo ride until victim wears out and will listen to your commands to calm down as you have them where you can get them help. Not an easy thing to do. I was expecting a panicked diver under a rock cavern ceiling in Ginnie Springs after a class checkout dive. It was ‘something’ different.’warped’ newbie student thought it would be ‘amusing’ to rip my mask off of my face on purpose. I was preparing for the worst…after student told instructors what & why he did it …it was agreed by instructors & student he should leave and go back to Virginia. Since he passed the class, instructors said they were obligated by PADI to issue a certification card….

 

[D_B]

Since he passed the class, instructors said they were obligated by PADI to issue a certification card….

Interesting ... my PADI instructor would not pass you unless he thought you would be a safe diver (and, he would do more training if that was what was needed to make them so, but he has also refused those with an attitude that did not make them safe to dive with) ... it is the instructor that passes you (or not) not the agency he works for.

Sorry for partially derailing this thread and I do not want this to to degenerate into an agency bashing/conflict .. this is a what drowning looks like thread and has been most illuminating

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

NOW that makes sense to me. If part of this response is regarding my ‘incident’ in Ginnie. I, as well as all students in the class agree with rejection of the ‘unsafe’ student although he passed the entire course. In fact the instructors were going to present a proposal to PADI to make an exception and reverse his certification in this case. Too many details involved…some I was not privy to. The disturbing conclusion was that a week from that Saturday, both instructors died in a speedboat accident in a freak Thunderstorm that was not in any long or short range forecast before they could make it to a safe exit location. Totally unexpected….I never followed up the status of the unsafe student. From what I gathered, he still got certified. Kinda scary this guy was able to dive with others later….