What constitutes an emergency?

[Bob DBF]

The only thing i would consider an "emergency" is if someone has nothing to breathe. I cant think of another situation underwater that requires immediate action

Agreed, although any issue deserves immediate attention, as the incident pit is waiting for those that ignore issues.

So long as everyone is breathing, you have time to fix a problem.

Thats been my mantra since I started diving decades ago.


Bob

 

[Ryan Mcshane]

Agreed, although any issue deserves immediate attention, as the incident pit is waiting for those that ignore issues..

I agree, always fix the little things. When it hits the fan, they can become big things.

 

[kelemvor]

I think the answer becomes obvious if you simply look up the definition for emergency:

Definition of emergency
1 : an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action

2 : an urgent need for assistance or relief

So if something happens that requires you to take immediate corrective action, it's an emergency. Once you take the action the emergency is over imo.

Silt out? Emergency. You got onto the line or out of the cloud? Emergency over.

OOA? Emergency. You got onto another air source? Emergency over.

I think the emergency ends as soon as you successfully take corrective action, which may or may not include terminating the dive.

I guess the "rub" could be the inclusion of unforeseen in the definition. I don't think it makes sense to hinge your description of a circumstance on foresight. Car accidents happen often enough they can't really be called unforeseen, and I don't think anyone would call a serious car accident anything other than an emergency.

That's my opinion.

 

[CuzzA]

Both those scenario's you're still going to stop and think, look for a reference and clues as to where the line/exit. If gas causes these situations to turn into an emergency, it's because you failed to plan your gas properly.

Rushing in those situations is just gonna make thinks worse... Out of gas however, requires immediate response.

Just because there's an emergency that doesn't stop one from thinking and acting and it doesn't mean panic. Scully had an emergency, he didn't panic and consequently safely landed in the Hudson by thinking and acting.

As John alluded to this is the basic forum, but mentioning an overhead can serve as a reminder to stay out of overheads if you're not trained. I do have to say I disagree with you though.

In open water, OOG is survivable by doing an emergency ascent. In an overhead, OOG means you're dead. The emergency started when you got lost.

Likewise, a shark attack comes with running out of blood or going into shock. The emergency started when you got bit, not when you run OOG. Furthermore, a medical emergency, like a heart attack is an emergency. A full tank of gas means nothing. The sooner you get to the surface, the greater your chances of surviving.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Depends on each person's definition. Like the thread on "When are you no longer a beginner"?

Whether it depends on each person's definition depends on whether the goal is to agree on a definition. I think it could be defined, if that's the goal. It's not quite as subjective as "beginner."

 

[boulderjohn]

I would just like to point out that quite a few of the arguments here are merely semantics--how do we apply the defintion of a word to a situation?

The general idea is that something can happen under water for which you can act appropriately by following proper training or inappropriately, often by panicking or by not having the tools you were trained to use with you. If you act as trained, you should be OK. If not, things can get a lot worse.

Now, what you label those "somethings" is just word choice.

 

[rjack321]

The only thing i would consider an "emergency" is if someone has nothing to breathe. I cant think of another situation underwater that requires immediate action. So long as everyone is breathing, you have time to fix a problem.

I'll give you three that don't fit this definition:
1) New diver runs OOA and while you give them a spare regulator they are flustered, panicky and rushing to ascend
2) A diver having an O2 seizure, the reg is in their mouth for now
3) CCR diver breathing but O2 is shut off and they don't know or realize it

 

[CuzzA]

Yes, John, I agree, but the question was "what constitutes an emergency..." I'm just playing along. Broken mask? No. Shark attached to my thigh? Yes.

 

[kelemvor]

Shark attached to my thigh? Yes.

I think that's more of a "bathroom emergency." Maybe it is multiple kinds of emergencies...

 

[Ryan Mcshane]

I'll give you three that don't fit this definition:
1) New diver runs OOA and while you give them a spare regulator they are flustered, panicky and rushing to ascend
2) A diver having an O2 seizure, the reg is in their mouth for now
3) CCR diver breathing but O2 is shut off and they don't know or realize it

Won't argue with that. - however, all things that will lead to not breathing