Life Saving Lessons

[vmf]

Often we read / hear news stories about diving accidents resulting in death or hospitalisation. Generally, the bare facts are provided with some witness comments and a summary that a subsequent inquiry will hope to establish the cause of the accident.
The trouble is that these inquiries are often concluded years after the event; not well publicised; and possible lessons for other divers are not reported.
I am aware of diving magazines that include case histories and lessons - generally one or two cases per edition with only rudimentary facts.
Are there websites that discuss these diving accidents and lessons in detail?
Is there enough interest in this area for Scuba Board to commence a category?
The main reason for the above is that there is so much to learn from the experience of others.

Regards,

vmf

 

[Walter]

It certainly is worth some posts, but we are already way too fragmented. This will fit quite nicely in the general fragment.

WWW™

 

[detroit diver]

vmf,

Accident info has been a problem for many years. People have tried to get the data from the organizations that store it (DAN, etc.), but are having problems prying it from them. There even has been talk of setting up a federal agency-like the FAA, for diving accidents so that the info is public.

Many people (including myself) believe that there is a lot of politics involved with the release (or non-release) of this info. Imagine the effect on PADI et al and their marketing programs if volumes of info on diving deaths, bends, trips to chambers became easliy accessible. How many "diver dies of unknown causes" would it take to retard the growth of this industry.

Just my .02, refunds fully granted.

 

[kelpmermaid]

While it could be informative, I agree, I don't think it is likely. When there is litigation (and there frequently is, at least here in the US,) people are reluctant to disclose anything. Who would do the disclosing, and if it is not the party who had the accident, would that violate anyone's privacy?

 

[Deepy]

If you read German, there is a very good site about diving accidents with the possibility of discussions, and with a lot of examples.

http://www.taucher.net/unfall/index.html

Cheers

 

[scubakat]

This is my favorite accident site, they don't identify the diver, but do provide all of the information they can about the accidents.
http://www.h2okinawa.com/mishaps/mishaps.htm. It only reports on divers that made it to the chamber for treatment though.

Just this week a diver died in my region. We are all wondering what/how/why and only get the bare essentials from the newspaper.

-kate

 

[DeepSeaDan]

Hello vmf...

I have been scouring the net for a few years now looking for diving accident/incident/injury/ fatality information & have had reasonable success thus far.

All my courses include a review of selected accident reports. I further encourage my students to seek out this information & study it closely. After 27 years diving I have seen alot but I am continually amazed at the never-ending ways our species manages to get into trouble underwater.

D.A.N. will sell you statistics for a given year from their database; other (FREE!) sites include:

http://www.bsac.com
http://www.chime.ucl.ac.uk/~rmhiajp/diving/ndc90/ndc90f.htm
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~bilsons/incidents.htm
http://www.divernet.com/safety/inci397.htm
http://www.ecn.net.au/~trevor/legends.htm
http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/aquacorps.Incidentreps/incidentcontent.htm
http://www.webdive.com/library/death.htm
http://www.wrolf.net/Cautionary.html


The B.S.A.C. information is excellent, but read the primer on the standard techniques British divers employ, as well as their diving vocabulary.

If you like that stuff, let me know...I have lots more.

Regards,
D.S.D.

 

[vmf]

Thanks Scubakat, Deepy (unfortunately I do not read German!) & Deep Dea Dan.
Your links contain the info that I believe all divers should read and provide lessons that may save our lives.

Regards,

vmf :sunny: