Have you ever had a medical emergency on a dive?

[k ellis]

Has anyone ever been on a dive under the seas where their dive partner suddenly entered in to a life threatning situation like DCI, Chest pains, shortness of breathe Etc. Just interested to hear the stories.

 

[Guba]

Yes, twice. The latest was last summer on a science diver trip in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the leaders took an undeserved DCS hit. Because Hurricane Dolly was brewing in the Gulf, we couldn't summon a Coast Guard evacuation, so we had to turn the boat and head in. The diver took a pair of chamber rides, but he's okay now.

As for the other episode, if you want the story, let me know and I'll PM you.

 

[Doc]

Yes. Sure. That and more.

Stories? It ruins the dive trip.

 

[Garrobo]

No...........

 

[tomboyy]

jeez Garrobo your just full of value added posts today.

 

[drbill]

Fortunately no. The closest I ever came was when I had a stroke while working on board Cousteau's windship Alcyone. We were filming a two-hour documentary on the Channel Islands for their "Rediscovery of the World" series on TBS back in 1985. Despite a mostly paralyzed right arm and very slurred speech, I worked for another 8-10 days before being put in the hospital for a week.

 

[mrfixitchapman]

I was diving the Upper Keys with a now-gone operator. Instabuddy got hit on the head with a Newton 46. His second ocean dive and the 6-8 ft seas had him confused. And hurt.

DC

 

[TMHeimer]

No. You are supposed to keep up your EFR & Rescue knowledge, which I do. But I ask divers/instructors if they have and most say no. I often wonder how I would react if the real thing ever did happen. Try asking people (not just divers) if they have ever given CPR or even saw it being given (not those in the business like cops, firemen, etc.). I'll bet almost no one you ask has experienced this except on TV.

 

[Coldwater_Canuck]

No. You are supposed to keep up your EFR & Rescue knowledge, which I do. But I ask divers/instructors if they have and most say no. I often wonder how I would react if the real thing ever did happen. Try asking people (not just divers) if they have ever given CPR or even saw it being given (not those in the business like cops, firemen, etc.). I'll bet almost no one you ask has experienced this except on TV.

Well said. Obviously, the more you dive (or more precisely, the total cumulative number of people you've dove with) will increase the likelihood of seeing something. But scuba is overall safe enough that most people probably won't experience it personally.

 

[Guba]

I'll bet almost no one you ask has experienced this except on TV.

I guess I'm one of the "unlucky" ones, because I HAVE rendered CPR on board a dive boat. It happens, though (thankfully) rarely.