PADI's View on Calling for HELP

[tep]

I've followed most of the threads, and didn't see anyone else mention the local practice at La Jolla Shores (San Diego)...

The instructor checks in with the lifeguards at the main tower, and the victim (and only the victim) wears a bright orange swimming cap (or hood?).

If the guy yelling for Help is wearing the orange cap, they watch the instructor and class and if all goes well, they know not to respond. If a bystander goes to the lifeguards, they can explain what's going on.

 

[JEScholz]

I make it a point to ask if there is any rescue training going on when I am at a quarry or I know if classes are being held. I would love to see PIZZA become the "unofficial" industry standard for training. After 30 years as a firefighter / EMT, when I hear a call for help I respond.

 

[nadwidny]

We are taught to yell "Help" in an emergency since before we can talk. I find it hard to believe that a 2 day course would change a behaviour which is so ingrained as to be almost instinctive.

 

[Ann Marie]

I have my student's say "Help". I have someone on the beach providing support and speaking with bystanders if need be. (I get my Open Water students and AOW students to help out. They have fun, we all go on a fun dive afterwards, and then to lunch.) I also post a couple of signs on the beach saying that a course is taking place. I also call the local police and life guards to let them know that we are going to be on the beach from ___ to ___. I've mentioned that if they want to come down to run through any scenarios, they are welcome too. They haven't taken me up on it yet.

 

[DiverBizz]

So Ann Marie what happens if someone is near your class and is asking for assistance. I realize that the possibility of that occurring is rare but I would hate to be the instructor who called EMS and told them I was on the beach running drills. I know different things work for different people so I am not hear to tell anyone they are right or wrong but I would be worried about liablity or getting assistance for someone who needed it.

 

[Ann Marie]

So Ann Marie what happens if someone is near your class and is asking for assistance. I realize that the possibility of that occurring is rare but I would hate to be the instructor who called EMS and told them I was on the beach running drills. I know different things work for different people so I am not hear to tell anyone they are right or wrong but I would be worried about liablity or getting assistance for someone who needed it.

That is the exact reason I have someone on the beach to monitor our class.

I think that if the Lifeguards, EMS, or Police got a call they would check it out even with my previous phone call. I am only giving them a call to let them know what I am doing that day not to stop them from rolling if they get a call. PADI also recommends that I contact local EMS organizations to notify them.

If someone did call for assistance near my class, we could put our skills into realtime practice.

 

[dgahagan]

I make it a point to ask if there is any rescue training going on when I am at a quarry or I know if classes are being held. I would love to see PIZZA become the "unofficial" industry standard for training. After 30 years as a firefighter / EMT, when I hear a call for help I respond.

Exactly Jim. In my OW class, the people next door kept yelling help all the time. The firefighter mindset kept telling me to help. It also made it very hard to focus on the class I was in. We *never* falsely yell help during fire training for exactly this reason. If nothing else, it desensitizes the surrounding people to a real emergency. Next time we'll all be asking is it real or is it fake instead of taking the needed steps to help.

 

[cgvmer]

I have been working with Boy Scouts in safety drills, from water rescues for lifesaving merit badge, BSA lifeguard, as well as various first aid demonstrations. During many of these local EMS groups were involved and throughout the use of "PIZZA" instead of help was very consistent. Why would dive training be anything different.

 

[JEScholz]

I have my student's say "Help". I have someone on the beach providing support and speaking with bystanders if need be. (I get my Open Water students and AOW students to help out. They have fun, we all go on a fun dive afterwords, and then to lunch.) I also post a couple of signs on the beach saying that a course is taking place. I also call the local police and life guards to let them know that we are going to be on the beach from ___ to ___. I've mentioned that if they want to come down to run through any scenarios, they are welcome too. They haven't taken me up on it yet.

Ann Marie, What would it take to get you to switch over to "PIZZA"? Would you try it for just one class and see if it works just as well? You still could call EMS with an advisory and tell them you what you will be doing and also that you will be using "PIZZA" as your code word. That way, if they get a call for "HELP" they can ask if the caller heard "help" "pizza or just assumed from what they saw. It may prevent a delayed response to a real emergency which is more detrimental than a false response.

 

[ZzzKing]

What would you do if you or one of your students actually got in trouble somehow and needed help? You've contacted the authorities and everyone on the beach that might be in a position to render aid and convinced them that you are just kidding and don't really need help.