ACADEMICS

Diving Safety. Causes and prevention of diving accidents: physical conditioning and physiological factors, stress and psychological factors, stress and the panic syndrome in self and others, recognizing distress, pre-dive equipment checks, and surface drowning syndrome.           

Diving rescue: self-rescue, diver assists, surface and underwater rescues, diver transport, in-water rescue breathing, gear removal techniques, boat and shore extrication techniques, first aid applications, and oxygen usage.

General accident management: victim care and positioning, access to emergency transport/assistance and hyperbaric chambers, information collection and transmittal, accident reporting, liability and related legal considerations.

O/W SKILLS

Emergency/Rescue/Problem Solving

—On the surface, identify the problem and properly assist a completely equipped skin or scuba diver simulating each of the following: a muscle cramp, rapid shallow breathing, exhaustion, signs of pre-panic and breathing difficulties (due to suit constriction, cold water, etc.).

Scuba Diver Rescue:  In scuba gear, make an entry, swim 50 yards to the simulated victim; retrieve the victim from the bottom in about 20 feet of water using a safe, controlled ascent; stabilize, initiate and continue simulated in-water rescue breathing; remove gear as necessary while transporting the victim to an exit. In-water rescue breathing is accomplished by making cheek-to-cheek or chin contact and simulating a rescue breathes of 1.5-2 seconds in duration at a rate of twice every 10 seconds.

With the aid of one other diver, remove a diver simulating a non-breathing unconsciousness victim from the water after reaching the water’s edge, boat or platform.