Has anyone been known to pass out under the water do to panic

[DocVikingo]

Hi Dr. Thomas,

"Jests are supposed to be of some service in controversy . . . you should kill your opponents' earnestness with jesting and their jesting with earnestness." (Aristotle).

The US health care system is not without aspects of the inadequacies you've cited. The frequency & speed with which individuals insured under managed care plans get to see specialists can leave much to be desired, and many of our ERs are less than models of efficiency & celerity (although some are excellent).

The personnel in our ambulances come with various levels of training, and I'm not sure of UK requirements for an ambulance paramedic. However, to gain admittance to our National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, which requires passing both rather comprehensive written & performance assessments, probably takes from 800 to over 1,000 hours of preparation, largely classroom but with a substantial hands-on component.

In any event, it is a rather dreary picture you paint.

Cheers,

DocVikingo

 

[BillP]

Hi Chac_Mool:

When people pass out underwater, they frequently drown. It's then impossible to ask them why they drowned, and autopsies only show that they drowned. Drowned divers are often found with fully functional equipment, air in their tanks, and weight belts on. Their drowning can sometimes be attributed to panic. I think it's safe to say that panic underwater is a very bad thing.

Why don't you head over to the "Basic Scuba Discussions" forum and ask, "Hey instructors and fellow divers, how can I avoid panic when diving?" Experienced instructors have likely dealt with it often, and many divers will probably be able to relate personal experiences and tell you how they handled them.

Good luck,

Bill

As an aside, I think it was C. Everett Koop, MD, former US Surgeon General who said that people want 1. Instant access to 2. High quality health care at an 3. Affordable cost. They can have any two of those they want.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Chac_Mool,

BillP's post makes it clear you haven't been helped much by all of these side conversations. His suggestion strikes me as a good one.

While you're waiting for answers, here's few items you might want to read:

http://www.scubadiving.com/training/instruction/nopanic/

http://www.scubadiving.com/training/instruction/worstfears/

http://www.scubadiving.com/training/instruction/relax.shtml

http://www.scubadiving.com/training/medicine/highanxiety.shtml

Hope this helps.

DocVikingo