Sandwich Beach Dive Accident

[johlar]

There was a problem with a 12 year old girl Saturday on Sandwich Beach. It was her first dive (supposedly no training), she was with her parents. Her face and eyes "swelled up".

I did not see it. My wife and daughter, both divers, were sitting on the beach when she was brought up the beach. They were taking her to the hospital.

Kind of scary

 

[scubastew]

WOWZERS, 12 years old seems kinda young, but I've never heard of face and eyes swelling. It's a pretty shallow dive site. Perhpas it was an alergic reaction to something, a bee sting, peanut butter, etc. I've heard that will make your throat and eyes swell. Are their any eels, sea snakes,fish in the area that may "sting" a person and cause that type of reation?

If someone has more information that would be great. thanks for the update Johlar!!

Can I ask an unrelated question? Did you have to pay to park at sandwich town beach? Or did you use your boat?

Hope that girl is okay, so young!

 

[johlar]

I was in my boat but my wife and daughter parked in the lot without a charge. There's an $8.00 ramp fee for boats.

My daughter thought the girl's problem may have been a mask squeeze., especially is she'd never done any diving. She may have tried to breathe thru her nose.

 

[The Chairman]

Sounds like she is allergic to something... typical anaphylactic response. Shrimp, sea lice, anything could have caused it. Mask squeaze that severe would probably be in deeper water.

No training sounds fairly irresponsible to take a shild like that out into the ocean.

 

[decapoddiver]

we all have the good sense to refrain from passing judgement or reaching conclusions until we have ALL the info. Ahem....

 

[scubastew]

decapoddivers got the right idea (must have worked for the FBI in a prior life?) but how do we get more info? poor girl, that could really ruin one of the best hobbies going!! especially so young. But so far my money's on NetDoc's hypothesis so far...

cheers all!!

 

[decapoddiver]

(must have worked for the FBI in a prior life?)

Nope. As a police officer (years ago) and a Paramedic now, I have seen far too many situations where the people with the least knowledge about the incident reach the fastest conclusions. They are almost always completely wrong.

It's funny how many bizarre treatment options I am told I should do by folks with absolutely no medical training :11:

 

[Soggy]

12!?!?

I personally don't think anyone under 18 should be allowed to dive in open water...without good judgement, it's an extremely dangerous sport. I was pretty level-headed as a teen-ager and I'm certain that I wouldn't have understood the ramifications of dive-related injuries, nor been capable of handling any sort of emergency.

 

[MSilvia]

I disagree Soggy... I got in the OW for the first time at 15, and was a trained first responder and member of a local (terrestrial) search and rescue team at the time. I was pretty well aware of the types and severity of injuries that could occur in up to 60 feet of water, and I think I was more lacking in skill (and money for gear) than in good judgement.

I think I was 16 the first time I thumbed a dive due to stress, and 13 the first time I had to make a three hour hike out of the woods while managing a laceration that required 15-20 stitches.

I think it depends on the kid.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

12!?!?

I personally don't think anyone under 18 should be allowed to dive in open water...without good judgement, it's an extremely dangerous sport. I was pretty level-headed as a teen-ager and I'm certain that I wouldn't have understood the ramifications of dive-related injuries, nor been capable of handling any sort of emergency.

In case you didnt know Aaron, some agencies certify as young as 10. If they are under 15, they would be certified as a junior diver, and have to dive with a dive professional, parent or guardian at all times. I have certified many children under the age of fifteen. However, for safety, thats why they dive with an adult. Also, most children can understand the basic concepts and dangers of scuba diving. If they cant, they dont get certified...
BTW, they also have a depth restriction.