Rescuing unconscious diver question

[kidspot]

Just curious on the current "opinion" out there. When I took my rescue course I was taught to bring up an unconscious diver using their BCD as, if there was a problem, they would at least make it to the surface. Recently while doing my DM I was told to use my own BCD for control as it was easier to maintain control... So which is most frequently taught and why?

Aloha, Tim

 

[Rick Inman]

Not sure what they're teaching these days, but I remember in actual practice that you'd better have control of both, to vent as you ascend so as not to run away.

 

[kidspot]

In rescue I was to "dump" my bcd completely initially and use the victims excusively for the ascent - thus no problem with 2 inflators... But I know what you're saying.

 

[Trixxie]

We were taught to vent from our own BCD - but in order to control the acsent we might also have to vent from the victims BCD

 

[gcbryan]

I was taught to use theirs to life them but of course you always have to maintain control of yourself as well. As Rick said use both.

I think the point is not to use only yours, drop them, and have them sink back to the bottom.

 

[MyDiveLog]

You only want to use one BCD, because it's too hard to manage dumping both safely. You should inflate their BC for two reasons:
1) An unconscious diver needs to be bouyant once on the surface to have any chance of rescue (and, let's admit it, chances are slim that they'll live if you didn't get to them immediately when the incident happened). Simply dumping their weights will probably accomplish that but they will be most bouyant if their BC is full of air as well.
2) The most compelling reason is for the safety of the rescuer: If you used your BC and the unconscious diver were negatively bouyant and you lost your hold on them, you become a Posiedon missile. It's the same reason you use a lift bag, not your BC, to move a heavy object underwater.

 

[The Chairman]

DAN has determined that the danger to the rescuer in such a case is minimal on a quick ascent. Obviously, the amount of N2 in your system (in deco or close to the max) will affect your decision here. If you are fairly neutral at 60fsw or shallower (wet suit), the amount of extra lift given by both of your wetsuits is not enough to make you ballistic. I don't know how many hundreds of times I have demonstrated this (NAUI Open Water) and have seen it performed by novices to see that this method actually works. Most common errors? Not checking the mask at depth for water, and letting the face fall back in the water once it hits air.

 

[Charlie59]

I was the unconscious diver in helping the other day and the rescuer dropped me and I fell like a lead balloon. Man I wish I had made it. Go with the victims (unless like me to be mean they disconnect the hose to the bc) bcd.

Sorry, I am evil.

 

[Dive-aholic]

PADI Rescue Course standards don't specify which method to use. That leaves it open to preference. I prefer to use the victim's because if I have to let go, I can still control my own buoyancy.

 

[Charlie99]

I was the unconscious diver in helping the other day and the rescuer dropped me and I fell like a lead balloon.

My rescue instructor mentioned this problem, and I've seen various incident reports that mentioned loss of contact between a rescuer and a very negatively buoyant victim, resulting the victim sinking down and being lost.

What I found worked best for me uses a bit of both BCDs.

1. Get the victim neutral --- that way you aren't strugging to drag them up.
2. you should already be neutral. Dumping a whole bunch of air out of your BCD can also make things difficult. If you have just a bit of air, then dump it, but don't make yourself grossly negative.
3. Vent from both as you ascend. Vent your own BCD early, often, and perhaps a bit more than needed. Keep the victim neutral to slightly positive.