PADI - Rescue Diver

[PaulChristenson]

Just remember to answer the first question on the Rescue Exam correctly....

Question: What do you throw a drowning lawyer?

Answer: An Anvil


Paul in VT

 

[Bill51]

More than just about any other specialty, rescue diver is one that you can get as little or as much out of as you’re willing to invest the effort for. Yes, you can do little tricks like use EAN 36 and take hits off your regulator when you get winded on the surface swims, which may make you look good to the instructors, but does it teach you what your real limits might be in a real emergency?

I’ve noticed that rescue students generally fall into two categories. The amateur recreational diver who wants a little better understanding of what can go wrong and some exposure to self rescue or helping their buddy, and the more determined “career track” diver that approaches the course more like boot camp to learn as much about the course and himself as possible. Neither is a right or wrong approach if the students are honest with themselves about what they want out of the course.

 

[Dion]

I have been thinking about taking the Rescue Diver course. For safety reasons and possibly for career track later. What exactly is involved? I have only ever heard people either say it was either "easy" or "horrible". I would assume that CPR is one of the things, and towing an unconscious diver, but what else is taught? And how long is it? Could it be done in a week at a resort, or is it a longer course and are the drills usually done in a pool, open water, or both?

Dion

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I did it in about a week, at a resort. This is the stuff I remember us doing, I've probably forgot a few:

Searches
Pulling a diver onto the boat, and onto the beach
bringing a diver to the surface
towing the diver back to the boat/beach while removing their gear and giving rescue breaths and calling for help ("call for a pizza")
handling a panicked diver underwater and at the surface
and some other stuff I imagine...I'd have to get my book and check

 

[Dion]

Thank you for listing that out for me! I went to one of the related threads and they listed the requirements. It appears that you must take Emergency First Response Primary Care (CPR) and Secondary Care (First Aid) classes first. Where did you take yours? I wonder if they have those at community colleges?

Dion

 

[Bill51]

Most dive shops have an instructor that can give you the CPR, and first aid classes along with the Rescue course and many also offer the DAN oxygen provider course too. They will target the course more closely to align with the type emergencies you might encounter in a diving environment.

 

[jpedwards]

You can take just about any level of First Aid and CPR at your local Y IIRC, or contact the Red Cross - both are very active in education and offer classes very reasonably.

 

[RIDIVER501]

Hint 1: I found the real value in the class is doing repeated practical in-water exercises such as degearing a diver while simultaneously continuing rescue breathing. Optimum class size is just 2 or 4 persons, so that you can spend a lot of time really doing things rather than watching others.
.

Charlie and all the new rescue diver standards have revised that skill. No longer do we spend about five minutes degearing while conducting a methodical every 5 second rescue breath.

The new standard is to evaluate your proximity to the shore/boat. If less then 5 minutes, just tow and go, giving rescue breaths while you tow. degear (quickly) prior to exit.

If greater then 5 minutes, degear what you need to and then tow and go.

Remember time is of the essence here. Chances are an unconsious non-breathing diver probably has no heartbeat and needs CPR. If there is no response to your rescue breaths the person is probably in cardiac arrest at that point in time it is recommended to discontinue rescue breaths and elect speed of egress. get the diver to shore/boat so you can begin cpor as soon as possible.

If you are familiar with the old standard go in and ask an instructor to go over the skill with you. (not suggesting you retake the course but aks them ot explain the new procedure so you are current) Most instructors will probably have no problem giving you a courtesy explaination.

 

[D_B]

If you do also get the DAN O2 Provider course , send in a PADI PIC card and get your O2 cert. card instead of the DAN one. the PADI one counts as a specialty and is good for life (I'm not saying that you don't need a refresher course periodically)


And Bill51 hit the nail on the head.
I took it so I could have more confidence and to better watch over my friend who is not a strong swimmer, dives just on vacations, and has yet to dive cold water

More than just about any other specialty, rescue diver is one that you can get as little or as much out of as you’re willing to invest the effort for. Yes, you can do little tricks like use EAN 36 and take hits off your regulator when you get winded on the surface swims, which may make you look good to the instructors, but does it teach you what your real limits might be in a real emergency?

I’ve noticed that rescue students generally fall into two categories. The amateur recreational diver who wants a little better understanding of what can go wrong and some exposure to self rescue or helping their buddy, and the more determined “career track” diver that approaches the course more like boot camp to learn as much about the course and himself as possible. Neither is a right or wrong approach if the students are honest with themselves about what they want out of the course.

DB

 

[Charlie99]

Charlie and all the new rescue diver standards have revised that skill. No longer do we spend about five minutes degearing while conducting a methodical every 5 second rescue breath.

The new standard is to evaluate your proximity to the shore/boat. If less then 5 minutes, just tow and go, giving rescue breaths while you tow. degear (quickly) prior to exit.

Thanks for the update. Not really all that different from the recommendations of my Rescue class instructor back in 1999. Although the criteria wasn't "5 minutes", it was pretty clearly pointed out that within a certain range of the boat or shore that it's better to just get them out of the water without degearing. That discussion was after we had done some exercises and found out how hard it is to do everything. After we failed miserably at the 1st attempt is also when she talked about using all the resources available .... other divers, lines thrown/swum out from boat, etc.