PANIC - A FREE survey!

[bundy]

I have a theory about dive accidents. I believe that the number one cause of accidents is a simple human response called, Panic. So I'm putting out a survey to get a feel for what everyone thinks. The question is, do you think that the number one cause of accidents is panic induced by some outward situation or some inward situation, such as being nervous about the dive or something in there lives (above the water). I don't expect any replies, let's just see where this goes. Thank you in advance.

 

[String]

Panic definately makes minor situations worse and potentially dangerous. While the initial cause maybe something fairly straight forward to deal with panic them sets in and makes that task much harder.

 

[av8er23]

I definatly will agree that panic is the evil that causes most deaths among divers. I was almost a victim this past weekend.

 

[Vayu]

Many things can contribute to a diving accident and panic is certainly one of them. It is difficult to say whether it is the number one cause. I was recently in an accident and panic had nothing to do with it. Panicking DURING a dive accident that was caused by something else can certainly kill you though.

All scuba equipment needs a big 'DON'T PANIC' stamp on it just like my hitchhikers guide.

Always bring a towel...

-V

 

[DiverBuoy]

Actually the number 1 cause of diving accidents is diving <snicker>

 

[aquaoren]

IMO, panic is the end result and culmination of several thing going wrong and is what sends people "over the edge".
It's like the straw that broke the camels back.

 

[Blitz]

I would say that the accidents are generally results of inattention that causes problems that lead to panic. I want to be clear that I am generalizing though.

 

[Diver0001]

Panic is a paralizing feeling of terror and while the diver has certainly lost control by the time it sets in, the root causes of people panicing are deeper. In other words, panic is the last step in a chain of events, any one of which, if dealt with correctly, would have avoided the panic ever occurring....

So, no. I would say that panic is not a cause of accidents. The inability to cope with whatever it was that lead to the panic is.

Having said that, once a diver panics, his/her chances of getting injured by doing something incredibly spastic increase by several orders of magnitude.

R..

 

[riguerin]

More specifically, a cycle of events: building stress, leading to perceptual narrowing, distorted view of what's really happening, and the inability to make simple/sound decisions ... ultimately culminating in irrational/unsound actions.

 

[StSomewhere]

I believe the #1 cause is some chain of events that go unchecked. Panic is the just the result.