Model Action Plan for Divemasters

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IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ONCE VICTIM is out of the water:

(Treatment is the same for suspected lung-expansion injury or
decompression sickness.)
1. Calm the victim, if he or she is conscious. Send somebody quickly to
call "911" with details of the emergency.
2. Keep the victim's airway open. This is imperative.
3. Place the victim in a supine position flat on his or her back. Keep the
victim still. Head down is not advised.
4. If victim is conscious & breathing, administer 100% oxygen through
demand-regulator valve system. Keep oxygen flowing smoothly until
emergency medical help arrives.
5. If victim is not breathing, & no pulse is detectable, administer proper
CPR, as per rescue training (use the "A-B-C" memory jogger). Arousal
& Airway, Breathing, Check Pulse.
Give 15 compressions of sternum then two breaths, repeat indefinitely
until emergency medical help arrives. If you have 2 rescuers, split
duties.
For adults, compress sternum 1.5 - 2" inward at a point two finger
spaces above bottom nub of breastbone.
Do compressions at a rate of 80-100 per minute for adults. Stay steady.
6. Protect victim from excessive heat, cold, wetness or hazardous
exhaust fumes.
7. Give victim fluids -- but absolutely no alcohol, caffeine or stimulants of
any kind!
When qualified medical technicians arrive, advise them that IV fluids are
in order for the entire ride back to a hospital emergency room or

hyperbaric chamber. Do not use Entonox!! Use isotonic fluids. Glucose

is damaging to the CNS.
8. Arrange for immediate evacuation when help arrives. Advise EMTs to
keep the oxygen flow on non-stop for the full ride back to medical
facility. Just like the IVs, this is vital. Advise sending only to a center with
a recompression chamber. Avoid wasting time by sending to an
emergency facility unconnected to a hyperbaric facility. Avoid
unnecessary diagnostic procedures.
MAIN EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS for (Insert Your Location):
First dial "9-1-1."
Coast Guard Search & Rescue
Local Rescue Officer or Duty Officer
Local Fire Department (for EMTs)
Local Harbor Patrol or Marine Police
DIVERS ALERT NETWORK EMERGENCY HOTLINE: 919-684-9111
Diving Emergency Telephone Numbers
DAN America.... 919-684-9111
DAN America-Mexico....52-5-6299800 code 33937 or 4258
DAN Europe....41-1-383-1111
DAN Japan....81-3-3812-4999
DAN Southern Africa (Outside South Africa)....27-11-242-0112
DAN Inside South Africa (Toll Free)....0800-020111
S.E. Asia-Pacific Region
DES Australia
Within Australia....1-800-088-200
From Overseas....61-8-8373-5312
DES New Zealand....0800 4 DES 111 (0800 4 337 111).
Singapore naval Medicine & Hyperbaric Center....65-750-5546
DAN S.E.A.P.-Philippines....63-2-815-9911
HYPERBARIC CHAMBERS:
Your Local Hospital with a chamber: Location and Address

24-hour number:
Emergency Room:
STANDARD DISTRESS SIGNALS if YOU ARE on a VESSEL:
Shoot up signal flares day or night. If you've got 'em, light 'em.
At night you also can blink out international code for "SOS" with a signal
light (... --- ...)
Use VHF radio Channel 16 or 156.8 MHz to give a resounding
"Mayday."