Post-rescue depression???

[Jim-SAR]

Crass - congrats on being the reason that there are two people still alive today because of you and your actions. Be very proud of that.

As a public safety diver, when we get called out, it's most likely for a recovery and not a rescue, but during that first "golden hour" we treat it as a rescue and do everything we can to help the victim. It doesn't always have a good outcome.

I won't delve into the specifics of our incident, but we were searching for a lost swimmer, and due to the conditions/currents, the operation was secured after a few hours. We knew that the person was no longer alive, and we couldn't risk the safety of others in those conditions.

My point is, as a PSD, we're continually left with feelings of "what else could I have done", "why didn't I do A, B, or C", and "next time I will do...". These thoughts can tear you apart if you let it, and have you second guessing everything. These are normal thoughts to have. How you manage them is what's different.

One thing I was taught that might help you:
--- You didn't do anything to cause the situation that the victim is in. The only thing you can do, is to use your training and try to help.

Don't question the events to much. Just do what you can to learn from it, and move on. Like I said, two people are still alive today because you took action. Right or wrong, it was still an action, and it worked.

Take care!


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[Jim Lapenta]

The hoses tied to the side of one tank is something you don't see often in the states. It is more common to see this with divers trained in the United Kingdom although the old DSAT tech deep manual shows a picture of that configuration. The more often seen is with the long hose down along the right side, coming up across the chest, and looped around the neck.
As for orally inflating a wing it is no different than any other BC save the hose may be shorter.
But the sad fact is that a number of experiences divers don't know this because even if they did a rescue class, they were likely not exposed to anything but basic recreational BC's and that "tech stuff" was not even addressed.
Given the circumstances you did good. Two people are alive instead of the alternative. The sensitivity thing you describe is also normal and something you should keep an eye on. If it persists or gets worse it'd be a good idea to address it with someone.
If you'll pm me your email I'll send you that article I noted earlier. And to.anyone else who wants it. It's been pretty popular lately. Unfortunately. The Ontario Underwater Council has distributed a few copies of it after getting it from me after the incident in Ginnie a few weeks ago.
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[rongoodman]

Ironically they said they were trained for tri-mix. Probably pretty good divers that just had a bad day and for some reason decided to tie their 7 footers up on the side of the tank. Never saw anything like that but I'm a rooky. The hoses on the side of the tanks were pretty telling that they were sure of themselves and thought everything was going to go well. Just goes to show anybody can have a bad day and nobody should take a dive litely. They were old divers and had been diving for YEARS. They mentioned they had got into dry suits ten years ago. Not sure how often they dived though.

Really though... I guess the hose routing was weird. I don't think anybody who was forward looking would have tied them up that way. I'm just a rookie as I've said but careful divers would have never done that.

Where were they from? Within the last few years, one of the major diving organizations in the UK has gone on a crusade against hog loop/primary donate. There were also all kinds of different configurations taught before the Hog configuration became more or less a standard in tech diving. I had an IANTD text for my original cave course that had some bad line drawings of some truly weird set-ups.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Thanks for all your kind words. I want to publically apologize to DumpsterDiver as some of what I said that was deleted by mods was out of line and not cool AT ALL. I'm just in a weird place right now and he struck a nerve but brought up some good ideas. Unfortunately I just wasn't strong enough to do what you had suggested. Maybe that's why it hit a nerve so hard. Not sure if you remember but I have terminal cancer so I'm not as strong as I once was. I'm not sure if it would have mattered anyhow but all I can say is I did my best. I didn't have the strength to do what you mentioned nor did I think of some of what you said. Once again, I'm sorry. It took everything I had to do what I did. I just couldn't keep all that weight up and do anything else. They both lived though so I think that's what's important.

And I DID have to protect her airway. I got her up for a breath while kicking upward and had to let her down to kick toward the shore. I agree if she had not been in control of her airway that would have been different but it was a team effort so to speak.

I am sort of surprised that some people are critical when if I had not acted, two people would have died. Not sure where that is coming from. I guess I'll be more ready the next time. I'm typically a solo diver and not used to watching out for other people.

I sincerely wished I had my equipment on but it wasn't the case. I was just cooling off before I put my BP/W on. The timing of all this was crazy and that's why it's such a trip. I never dive that site and normally ALWAYS dive a different part of the lake. This was actually the first time I dove that side of the lake with one exception.

Thank you for the apology, but I am not sure if I read anything you wrote that required it (or moderator intervention). But thanks...

You used all your energy and effort and saved someone; you should be satisfied with that. I myself have similarly used all my abilities during a rescue and the image of the puke floating in the open eyes of the diver is still burned into my retinas.. and I was not successful.. so I have an idea about these kinds of things can affect you and make you question future participation.

However, the most important thing when presented with a diver on the surface who is in serious trouble is to get them buoyant, even more important than your own, because if you fill your BC up and they slip from your grasp and sink, then the rescue "phase" may be over.. by the time you deflate, descend and initiate another ascent.

 

[ianr33]

I think the OP did great. Hope they are around if ever I screw up.

One thing I would mention though is that in an emergency,especially with unfamiliar gear,fastest way to release BC/ backplate is to just cut the straps with a pair of shears.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I think the OP did great. Hope they are around if ever I screw up.

One thing I would mention though is that in an emergency,especially with unfamiliar gear,fastest way to release BC/ backplate is to just cut the straps with a pair of shears.

Of course the OP had only a bathing suit.. no gear or scissors...

 

[ianr33]

Of course the OP had only a bathing suit.. no gear or scissors...

Understood,but it might be useful for someone else to know,or the divers in distress may have had some shears.

 

[Crass3000]

However, the most important thing when presented with a diver on the surface who is in serious trouble is to get them buoyant, even more important than your own, because if you fill your BC up and they slip from your grasp and sink, then the rescue "phase" may be over.. by the time you deflate, descend and initiate another ascent.

I get that. It wasn't in my capability. I'm pretty sure everybody who took an open water class knows that. If you have a new point to make great. Otherwise thanks for repeating AGAIN what everybody knew before you said it. No offense intended. I just want to make sure you know I got your point. Please remember I didn't have a BC, fins, or anything else helpful on. I've actually respected most of your posts from afar but you are kinda beating this to death.

I think the OP did great. Hope they are around if ever I screw up.

One thing I would mention though is that in an emergency,especially with unfamiliar gear,fastest way to release BC/ backplate is to just cut the straps with a pair of shears.

Yah Ironically I cut some of the same material that a BP/W is made of the same day to get a computer to hang right on my mom so it didn't drag. I was gonna buy a shears quite some time ago but keep forgetting. Hope it cuts better than my knife (I'll take your word that it does) cause it took me quite a while to get through it with a pretty nice knife. I've been looking at that Dive-Rite shears that comes on the thigh pocket. Ended up buying a semidry with thigh pockets so I've been looking for something that will integrate the same way while not getting in the way. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Ironically I thought about cutting the guys crotch strap but after I called it a butt strap and he got all excited about the nomenclature I figured he was pretty attached to it and would probably hunt me down. He was just as stable regardless I guess. Everything besides that was hanging off him. He told me to leave him alone so legally I had to. The irony that he couldn't talk otherwise but had to correct me on the name of the strap was pretty weird. On another note is that a green tree boa? Those things are expensive and pretty hard snake to take care of as they don't seem to like people much.

 

[dive_turkey]

I've been looking at that Dive-Rite shears that comes on the thigh pocket. Ended up buying a semidry with thigh pockets so I've been looking for something that will integrate the same way while not getting in the way. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I just orderd an EEZYCUT Trilobite after playing around with my buddy's. As a medic, I have an endless array of shears and strap cutters, extraction tools, and other assorted cool guy toys at my fingertips. Benchmade makes a strap cutter that I've considered adding to my gear, but sided with the Trilobite due to size and clutter concerns.

Unfortunately, I ordered mine directly from the EEZYCUT webpage. I only just now realized that Jim Lapenta sells them from his store for the same price. Would have like to send a little business his way.

 

[ianr33]

The trilobite is excellent. Shears don't last forever (the rivet rusts out) but they are dirt cheap on Ebay.