PADI's View on Calling for HELP

[Ann Marie]

I would be surprised if anyone on the beach hear us call for help. I don't have my students yell it, but I do want to hear them say it. And when they are working on their scenario, I am right next to them as well as several gear handlers.

Perhaps in my next class, I should have them say "pizza". Maybe I shouldn't have my 'victims' be realistic victims, have anyone cart a diver out of the surf, use O2, or practice giving CPR for fear of someone calling EMS. Or, perhaps not. If any of the local EMS organizations don't have a problem with my class using the word help, then I will most likely continue to.

 

[freediver]

I would be surprised if anyone on the beach hear us call for help. I don't have my students yell it, but I do want to hear them say it. And when they are working on their scenario, I am right next to them as well as several gear handlers.

Perhaps in my next class, I should have them say "pizza". Maybe I shouldn't have my 'victims' be realistic victims, have anyone cart a diver out of the surf, use O2, or practice giving CPR for fear of someone calling EMS. Or, perhaps not. If any of the local EMS organizations don't have a problem with my class using the word help, then I will most likely continue to.

This is how I have always conducted my rescue training. As I am swimming near the student he/she tells me in a low voice that only I can hear. After all, I am the one evaluating their ability to summon help. In fact, I have the student say to me precisely what the situation would call for. "You, call 911! Locate an AED, O2 unit and a spine board and help me remove the victim." or something very close to this. Again, this is stated in a very low tone. This does two primary things: 1) It allows the person to verbally rehearse exactly what they need to say in order to summon advanced help and resources to help the victim and, 2) It allows the rescuer to maintain a sense of control in a chaotic event.

 

[Quarrior]

Well, all I can say is that if God forbid someone actually needs help and doesn't get it in a timely manner and I am around as a witness when the questioning starts, I'll gladly offer testimony that it is the fault of the instructor that refuses to use words other than "help" and "call 911".

Then again you may be get lucky, after all my 30+ years as a certified first responder and instructor might not carry much weight in a court of law.

 

[freediver]

Well, all I can say is that if God forbid someone actually needs help and doesn't get it in a timely manner and I am around as a witness when the questioning starts, I'll gladly offer testimony that it is the fault of the instructor that refuses to use words other than "help" and "call 911".

How does the use of the word "help" in a quiet rehearsed tone (during training) diminish the chances of timely help? Conversely, how does the loud use of the word "pizza" enhance the chances of a rescue?

Then again you may be get lucky, after all my 30+ years as a certified first responder and instructor might not carry much weight in a court of law.

Not sure what this is supposed to mean.

 

[brutus_scuba]

If I were a real life victim drowning and someone jumped into save me and they started yelling for PIZZA I'd just tell them I don't care if it is just a little case of the death I don't need your help.

The ability to analyze a situation and respond accordingly is much more complex then trying to remember what word us English Speaking Humans yell when we need... ooh waht's the word again I foget.... HELP

If you can't remember to yell HELP where are you going to be useful in a rescue situation. Let the students yell Pizza in class if they mess up in realtime ... more then likely they messed up a lot more than just one word. You would have to be one dense pothetic creature to yell PIZZA in a real emergency.

 

[Ann Marie]

Well, all I can say is that if God forbid someone actually needs help and doesn't get it in a timely manner and I am around as a witness when the questioning starts, I'll gladly offer testimony that it is the fault of the instructor that refuses to use words other than "help" and "call 911".

Any how would this be my fault?? Because I have a student tell me in a conversation voice "help" instead of yelling pizza?

Then again you may be get lucky, after all my 30+ years as a certified first responder and instructor might not carry much weight in a court of law.

You say that you are an instructor, are you a PADI instructor? If you would read through the rescue course, you would see that PADI does recommend that you call local EMS as well as post a sign at the site. You are welcome to threaten me all you like, but I am following PADI's recommendations and the local EMS in my area doesn't seem to have a problem with me calling and giving them a head's-up.

 

[Quarrior]

How does the use of the word "help" in a quiet rehearsed tone (during training) diminish the chances of timely help? Conversely, how does the loud use of the word "pizza" enhance the chances of a rescue?

Not sure what this is supposed to mean.

Using your logic, how does teaching your students to quietly say "help" when they should be yelling it at the top of their lungs in a real situation? Nobody has yet to convince me in all of the statements on this subject on this board that replacing "help" with a non-emergency word during training will in any way affect a real life emergency in the future.

As has been posted previously, we are taught from the time we can speak to yell for HELP in an emergency.

Telling the local response personnel you are conducting a class and that they may get a false call only delays their response while they quiz the caller to find out if it's real or training.

As for the other comment I made, it's self explanitory.

 

[Quarrior]

Any how would this be my fault?? Because I have a student tell me in a conversation voice "help" instead of yelling pizza?



You say that you are an instructor, are you a PADI instructor? If you would read through the rescue course, you would see that PADI does recommend that you call local EMS as well as post a sign at the site. You are welcome to threaten me all you like, but I am following PADI's recommendations and the local EMS in my area doesn't seem to have a problem with me calling and giving them a head's-up.

I have been an instructor with the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Civil Air Patrol, US Air Force, American Lung Association.

I have taught more than 200 hundred classes on first aid and CPR in 5 different countries. I have also taught and participated in Land and Mountain Search and Rescue.

As I stated in the beginning of this thread. I discussed this issue with PADI and it is NOT a standard of theirs for students to actually call for help, only a suggestion.

I suggest you contact them for details.

 

[Ann Marie]

As I stated in the beginning of this thread. I discussed this issue with PADI and it is NOT a standard of theirs for students to actually call for help, only a suggestion.

I suggest you contact them for details.

I NEVER said that it was a standard to call for help. I NEVER even said that they suggested it.

 

[freediver]

Using your logic, how does teaching your students to quietly say "help" when they should be yelling it at the top of their lungs in a real situation? Nobody has yet to convince me in all of the statements on this subject on this board that replacing "help" with a non-emergency word during training will in any way affect a real life emergency in the future.

Just trying to understand. It's interesting to me that many here are not concerned about someone accidentally using the word "pizza" in a real event, however, as your statement implies, somehow this person would forget to "yell" the commands needed in a real event. I won't post my resume but I too have had much experience in teaching scuba rescue, freediving rescue, CPR/1st aid and lifeguard training. I have used this same verbal rehearsal method for 20+ years and it has worked well. Believe me, I am not trying to get anyone to change what is/has worked for them. I am simply of the opinion that a student can quietly rehearse what needs to said during training and be fully prepared when the crisis occurs by simply "elevating" their voice. I have seen no compelling evidence that a person needs to practice yelling for them to be capable of doing the same during an emergency to summon assistance.

As has been posted previously, we are taught from the time we can speak to yell for HELP in an emergency.

Ok, so that's plenty of practice! Now let's focus on exactly WHAT to say!

Telling the local response personnel you are conducting a class and that they may get a false call only delays their response while they quiz the caller to find out if it's real or training.

Yes and I have never argued this point.