Grabbing backup with left hand?

[jonnythan]

I gather (from videos and threads) that in an OOA situation while DIR, the donor is supposed to hand off his primary reg to the OOA diver with his right hand, THEN, once that's complete, grab his backup with the same right hand.

Why is this? Someone mentioned being corrected in DIRf because he grabbed the backup with the left hand while still donating with his right.

 

[JamesK]

That one I don't know. I am going to venture out and say why I feel it should be done that way though, because it happened to me once in a drill. When the person grabbed for their backup, they shined their light right in my eyes since it was on their left hand.

Of course, that is just a guess from lil old me. Maybe someone else can clear that up for us.

 

[Wendy]

That's my guess too.

 

[Uncle Pug]

One reason has already been posted... the light.

A bigger issue IMO is that if you are paying attention to procuring and stuffing your backup into your own mouth you are not giving 100% attention to getting the primary reg into the OOA's mouth.

You have just had a breath... you won't die instantly upon taking the regulator out of your mouth... but the OOA could be very close to passing out... you do not know... and you cannot afford to divert any of your attention away from your primary task: getting a functioning reg to the OOA and making sure that they are able to clear it and start breathing.

If you can't do that without having a regulator in your mouth I don't want to dive with you! I have quit diving with several folks as buddies because of their *me first* attitude.

I had better stop as I'm very close to going into a rant on this one.

 

[JamesK]

I was thinking along those lines also Pug.

Anyway, please go on a rant!!!!! I would LOVE to read it!!

 

[jonnythan]

That answer makes perfect sense, I hadn't really even thought of it.

And yeah, rant all you like

 

[Uncle Pug]

This is not a poke at you Jonnythan...

but your use of the word *GRAB* is very telling.

The word grab means to seize suddenly and forcefully with a grasping/snatching motion.

Again this is not to impugn your use of the word *grab*... it is exactly what happens when frantic folk freak.

After the OOA has restored breathing you calmly place your backup into your mouth, look at your SPG, take control of the situation and call the egress.

 

[MikeFerrara]

It is my understanding that DIR specifies that the light goes on the left hand because the right hand drives the scooter. I don't have a scooter (yet) and I have not yet become freinds with my goodmen handle, in fact I hate it. Not saying I'm right, just saying it. If the scooter is in your right hand what do you do with the scooter when you use your right hand to deploy the long hose? Does it go to your left hand? I guess you could just let go of it since it is clipped to the crotch d-ring. ok, just thinking out loud.

BTW my problem with the handle is that while running a reel (usually with the reel in my right hand) I may still need to do things with my left, like work the wing inflator or working with the line. While using my left hand my light could point all kinds of directions. I switch the light from hand to hand as needed. When I need both hands, I clip it. While clipped it points down which actually works out well.

When I deploy the long hose I will hand it off then place the backup (all with the right hand). However, if my left hand happens to be free, why not use it to place the backup? I think I can do that without fudging the long hose deployment.

 

[Uncle Pug]

MikeFerrara once bubbled...
It is my understanding that DIR specifies

This is only my understanding and not an official DIR proclamation (I might as well go ahead and copy that into my sig line.)

In an OOA I let the scooter go if I am donating and it just floats there on its leash. If I had been holding the light in my right hand as well I switch it to the left hand and use my right hand to donate. This doesn't take long and we are more deliberate than rushed. BTW I often hold my Goodman handle with my right thumb while scootering.

Using the Halcyon reel and a Goodman handle with one hand is standard practice and not a big deal. I have even tried it with an OMS reel as well without difficulty.

When clipped off my light shines forward if I am horizontal. If I want or need to get it out of my hands temporarily I will drape it over my neck left to right and let it shine down.

And I use my right hand to deploy the back up because my left hand is automatically retrieving my SPG at the point.

 

[jonnythan]

Uncle Pug once bubbled...
but your use of the word *GRAB* is very telling.

The word grab means to seize suddenly and forcefully with a grasping/snatching motion.

Again this is not to impugn your use of the word *grab*... it is exactly what happens when frantic folk freak.

After the OOA has restored breathing you calmly place your backup into your mouth, look at your SPG, take control of the situation and call the egress.

That's entirely fair.. I wasn't exactly envisioning frantically snatching my backup when I used the word grab, but the point is taken and it is something to keep in mind.