Training question for instructors or anyone who cares.

[Sean C]

My wife and I enrolled in a Rescue class package (Rescue/EFR/DEMP/O2). On our first attempt to do the course, we would have been the only two participants so at the LDS's request, we agreed to put it off till more people showed. Second attempt started with us finding out we were getting a different instructor and it would be later in the season, water gets cold up here and the wife doesn't like that. Anyway started the rescue class and did all the pool work and exam but due to not being able to coordinate with LDS, local lake iced over and we decided to finish in the Spring and do the EFR,DEMP at the same time. I was still o.k. with this. Note: still only two in class.

BUT, my wife blew her knee skiing, total ACL replacement over the winter. I told the LDS and they said to finish the course in the Fall (Sept./Oct./Nov) when my wife should be o.k. Well, we got the o.k. from her sports ortho surgeon and she is now doing spinning etc., but the rescue instructor told us he would not instruct due to the injury and we should wait until Spring, again.

Now, to be fair I did tell the instructor the we could do the course in the Fall provided my wife could put on her equipment in the water and that she did not have to pull the 240 pound instructor out of the water and across rocks by herself, so maybe I influenced his decision. Note: the LDS and instructor are in no hurry for us to do the EFR or DEMP.

I am torn between thinking the instructor is correct and is looking out for our interests and the more troubling doesn't have the time and is looking for an out, especially when another instructor said that he would have let us finish and would have worked around the issue without compromising the integrity of the course. I appreciate the whole concept of completing the requirements of the course but this seem to take the idea a bit far. Hey, I'm 215 pounds and in good shape and I doubt I would be able to haul his sorry butt out without a few herniated moments.

What do people think? Should I just try to get our record and finish somewhere else? I'm just afraid that be the time it works out with this LDS we are going to have to redo everything anyways because we will have forgotten it all.

Cheers

 

[rawls]

Sean...If a physician gives someone the go ahead to do something, I would think the instructor would accept the clearance. I know that I probably would unless I saw your wife still limping or favoring her knee. There is a gray area where at times the instructor does have to make a call regardless of what a physician or anyone else says. Instructors have a good understanding of what dive training requires of your body. So sometimes a judgement call has to be made. To me it seems a bit too long to wait and it does seem as if he may be putting you off...I don't know. The bottom line IMHO is if you are not feeling comfortable with this situation I would suggest that you either find another instructor or go elsewhere...or both...

 

[Dive-aholic]

So, let me get this straight. You've been working on this course for about a year now and the LDS is wanting to put it off for another 6 months or so? I don't have a problem with the instructor wanting to wait a little bit longer. The problem is that it's taken this long to begin with. Either get a referral and do the OW portion somewhere else, or get your LDS to put it in writing that you will be able to complete the entire course from beginning to end in the Spring regardless of how many students sign up.

 

[nereas]

My wife and I enrolled in a Rescue class package (Rescue/EFR/DEMP/O2). On our first attempt to do the course, we would have been the only two participants so at the LDS's request, we agreed to put it off till more people showed. Second attempt started with us finding out we were getting a different instructor and it would be later in the season, water gets cold up here and the wife doesn't like that. Anyway started the rescue class and did all the pool work and exam but due to not being able to coordinate with LDS, local lake iced over and we decided to finish in the Spring and do the EFR,DEMP at the same time. I was still o.k. with this. Note: still only two in class.

BUT, my wife blew her knee skiing, total ACL replacement over the winter. I told the LDS and they said to finish the course in the Fall (Sept./Oct./Nov) when my wife should be o.k. Well, we got the o.k. from her sports ortho surgeon and she is now doing spinning etc., but the rescue instructor told us he would not instruct due to the injury and we should wait until Spring, again.

Now, to be fair I did tell the instructor the we could do the course in the Fall provided my wife could put on her equipment in the water and that she did not have to pull the 240 pound instructor out of the water and across rocks by herself, so maybe I influenced his decision. Note: the LDS and instructor are in no hurry for us to do the EFR or DEMP.

I am torn between thinking the instructor is correct and is looking out for our interests and the more troubling doesn't have the time and is looking for an out, especially when another instructor said that he would have let us finish and would have worked around the issue without compromising the integrity of the course. I appreciate the whole concept of completing the requirements of the course but this seem to take the idea a bit far. Hey, I'm 215 pounds and in good shape and I doubt I would be able to haul his sorry butt out without a few herniated moments.

What do people think? Should I just try to get our record and finish somewhere else? I'm just afraid that be the time it works out with this LDS we are going to have to redo everything anyways because we will have forgotten it all.

Cheers

I believe the instructor is correct and that you should proceed without your wife.

 

[sberanek]

I did rescue class after a pin in the right hip and a hemiarthroplasty of the right shoulder (I now have a new steel ball). It was not expected that I carry the heavy people around during class reguardless of my surgeries or being completely healthy. I'm only 5'4 and about 135lbs.

I can tow and/or assist in rescues and I know all the rescue procedures. I do not expect to ever dive in an isolated area with just me and the person I will rescue, but I will do what I can to help should the situation occur.

In short, I think both you and your wife should be able to do class and learn/practice the skills. There aren't many people who are strong or fit enough to claim they can rescue any size person on their own.

--Shannon

 

[coldsmoke]

I have had a couple of total ACL replacments. I don't see any reason, with proper re-hab of course, that you can't do every bit as much as you could before after a year to heal. Age will be a factor, but if you don't heal completely in a year I don't know if your going to heal any more regardless of more time. Both times, I was back skiing within 6 months and friends of mine competing on higher levels than I was were back as quick as 4 months. This is for freestyle mogul skiing. I could be wrong but I think that's a little harder on your knees than swimming.

Hunter

 

[Sean C]

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

I think I will try to get the instructor to give me our training results or a referral letter so we can get this thing done in a more confortable environment. I would probably be more willing to wait if they had at least shown some interest in getting us into the EFR/DEMP/O2 classes.

What is the best way to get the instructor to give me our records or the refferal and is he under any obligation to do so.

Sean

 

[Scuba.com]

You should simply ask the instructor or the manager/owner of the LDS for the referral. There are documents the instructor of record provides that show completion of the various part of the course that the new instructor is going to need.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Like Scuba.com stated, just ask. It is your training record and it should be provided to you. However, he can also charge you for the his "time" in providing you with that record. I've come across shops that charge as much as $45 US for a referral.