Rescue Diver & EFR

[medic001918]

Reading one of the other posts with regard to the training for rescue diver made me think of a question that I've been meaning to get answered. I am thinking of taking the rescue diver course in the spring, and I understand that there is a medical portion of the course. I am a paramedic within a busy city 911 EMS service. Do my certifications and licenses through the state make me exempt from having to sit through yet another medical class or classes? My licenses and training far exceed the requirements that would be required for the rescue diver course. I have asked at one of the local dive shops, and wasn't met with a real sure answer. Any help would be appreciated.
Regards,
Shane

 

[alcina]

I would think so as the EFR in PADI doesn't actually have to be EFR...it can be a different senior first aid with CPR. Check with PADI (or whichever agency you are using) directly for your specific qualifications and what paperwork you will need to provide as proof.

 

[gjmmotors]

Yes all that is required is basic first aid and cpr. So you will not have to sit through the course. The instructor will just need to see the cards, and then will sign off.
- g mount

 

[emtdan]

I am not an instructor, but you may be able to skip out on the course day where they talk about CPR, and O2, but other then that, i think you should be there. Frankly, i think some the of poilicies PADI has are a little different from EMT and paramedic policies.

 

[Saipanman]

As long as your certifications are current (usually within 2 years), you should be fine.

You may want to consider attending the course any way (at least for the actual dummy thumpin and blowing) to help your instructor teach the rest. I'm sure you would be a very valuable resource for your instructor.

 

[Dive-aholic]

g mount is right. PADI will even accept your medic cert for DM. No need to get EFR card.

 

[gjmmotors]

Its a waste of time for a Medic to sit through the class. There is nothing being taught that you havent seen or used before. If the instructor asks you to help thats a different story, by the standards you can be used as an assistant.
-g mount

As long as your certifications are current (usually within 2 years), you should be fine.

You may want to consider attending the course any way (at least for the actual dummy thumpin and blowing) to help your instructor teach the rest. I'm sure you would be a very valuable resource for your instructor.

 

[Saipanman]

Its a waste of time for a Medic to sit through the class.

For the medic, perhaps. But not for the other students.

Or, for that matter, the instructor. I've never had to use my CPR skills (thank God). I would feel a whole lot better if a medic were in one of my classes. Also, in my classes I stress that there won't always be a good result despite one's best intentions. Confirmation from a pro would be welcome.

I just think the poster would be a total asset to the class (at least during the demos and practices). Should he pay for it? I don't think so. Would everyone benefit because the medic was there? Absolutely.

But I totally get what you're saying.

 

[Wildcard]

Its a waste of time for a Medic to sit through the class. There is nothing being taught that you havent seen or used before. If the instructor asks you to help thats a different story, by the standards you can be used as an assistant.
-g mount

I have to second this. For even a basic EMT with a little real life field time, Rescue diver is a huge waste of time. My class consisted of me, Paramedic since 1985, former nursing student and current Pre PA and a guy who was a Paramedic since 1972 and now a long time nurse. The instructor learned a lot from us. For people that don't have any real life hands on dealing with dead and dying people time, it's a good class.

 

[medic001918]

thanks for all the replies. I didn't even think of attending to help instruct the class as I'm not an EMS instructor or even a CPR instructor. Just a street medic who's been through countless hours of medical classes and even more hours on the streets of a busy city service. I'll have to ask them if they'd like me to come in and give some insight as to real EMS procedures. I assumed that the PADI protocols would be different then our EMS ones, but if anything ever went to court they would look at me as being a paramedic and not a PADI EFR or equivalent. It's a vicious set up. Anything that I do weather on or off duty (and off-duty I can only function to the EMT-Basic level), is tried as a paramedic in terms of knowledge. I'm sure Wildcard knows what I mean since he has extensive medical experience from the sounds of things?
I'd like to take the Rescue class more for the self rescue and diver assist techniques than anything else. The medical side would be null and void for me from the sounds of things, but I would be happy to help teach the class and give some insight as to what really goes on in a medical emergency since things are not always done the way people think. And people don't always make out as well as they do on TV.
Thanks again for the insight and help. It's much appreciated.
Shane