Water Safety

(Diving)
Borhanudin Mohd Yusof @ Mohamed

Safety Overview
u Incident
uIs

an error or unplanned event that reduces

the safety margin of a dive

u Accident
uIs

an unchecked incident resulting in injury

that requires first aid and / or treatment

u Both

are significantly reduced by proper dive

preparation

Dive Preparation
u

Proper preparation is the result of:

u Adequate

level of fitness

u Appropriate
u Acquisition

training

of skills

u careful

planning

u Correct

equipment

Level of Fitness
u

You need to be physically and medically fit to dive safely and enjoyable

Do not mix smoking drugs & alcohol with diving and never diver under the
influence

Do not dive when on medication unless cleared by doctor (certain countries

required approval by diving doctor)

Do not dive with a cold, flu or any allergy that effects ears, lungs or sinuses

Teeth- after an extraction do not dive until socket is healed (usually 7-10
days)

Do not dive for 24 hours after donating blood

Appropriate training
u

Must be adequate for the level of diving being planned; e.g: open water scuba
diver cant dive beyond 18m depth and no night dive.

Dive to the level of the least experienced diver in the group

Build experience up slowly

Do an area orientation if unfamiliar with conditions

Do a refresh course with a qualified scuba instructor if you have not dived for
six month or lack confidence

Continuing education improves confidence, skill level, knowledge and

experience.

Never exceed the limits of your training and always seek further education!

Acquisition of skills
u

Skills must be instinctive, which is only gained from good training and practise
(REMEMBER: seek training from QUALIFIED instructor; Dive Master can only
assist instructor)

The following minimum skills are essential for safe diving at all level of
qualification.
u

Surface skills e.g: determine correct weight for neutral buoyancy, snorkel
comfortably in varying conditions

Mask skills e.g: clear mask effortlessly with one hand, remove and replace mask
confidently, breathe comfortably without mask

Regulator skills regulator clearing, regulator recovery and comfortably exchange

regulator underwater

Out of air drill must be an instinctive drill

Monitoring air consumption

Good buoyancy control could prevents injuries

Buddy system is the fundamental to safe diving and increase enjoyment, be the
buddy you wish to dive with.

Dive Planning Stages

u

Dive planning is critical to safe diving and all stages must be considered prior to
the dive

Pre-dive
u
u

Obtain local knowledge from an expert

select an appropriate dive site

Ensure minimal hazards and boating traffic

Monitor weather reports for expected swell and wind conditions

Check for entry and exit safety

Select appropriate time to dive, take consideration of tides, currents and weather

Organised and check equipment

Inform someone of where and when you are diving and when you expected to return

Have a diver flag and /or float

On site
u

Check the condition e.g: current, waves, visibility and weather

Erect dive flag

Determine safe entry and alternative exit

Check for hazards

Create and agree upon a dive plan

Assist in gearing up

Do safety check on each other

Post-dive
u

Check health

Notify return

Fix faulty equipment

Discuss and record dive in log book

Avoid predisposing factors for Decompression Illness e.g: consume drugs & alcohol,
exercising, flying or driving over hills, minimum an hour surface interval (if
planning for next dive)

Managing equipment
u

Make sure all appropriate equipment

Pre-dive checks

Check all equipment is functional

Check all equipment is fitted correctly

Check buddys equipment and vice versa

Care & maintenance

u

Regularly check hoses, straps and mouthpieces for sign damage, wear and perishing

Wash in fresh water after use

Repair any problems immediately

Servicing
u

Must be done by a qualified service technician ( annually or every two or three years
depend on the type of equipment)

Pool safety
u

Having the appropriate equipment

u

E.g.: life saving equipment

Staying close and being alert in and around the pool

u

ensure lifeguard and sufficient staff to monitor the pool,

review water safety rules at the pool

Learning and Practicing Water safety skills

u

Taking swimming lesson from qualified trainer

Know how to perform CPR

Understand basic of life saving

The respiratory system

u

Components
u

Air passages through nasal cavity and mouth

The trachea (wind pipe)

The lungs (in thoracic cavity within chest)

Function
u

Our body consumes Oxcygen to produce energy

Carbon dioxide is a by product of cellular respiration

The respiratory system (lungs) allows gas transfer oxcygen in to the blood and
carbon dioxide out of the blood via air sacs called alveoli

The circulartory system (heart, blood vessels and blood) transport oxygen and
carbon dioxide throughout the body

The rate of breathing is determined by the level of carbon dioxide in the blood

Mouth and nasal passage

u

Before reaching the lungs air is humidified, filtered and cooled or heated

Food goes down oesophagus and air goes up and down the trachea

Trachea (wind pipe)

u

Round tube supported by cartilage bands

Larynx (voice box) is located at the top of the trachea

Divides into two bronchi one to each lung

Lungs
u

Consist of bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli

Bronchi divide into bronchioles, the smallest of which contain muscles which can
alter diameter and therefore air flow

Bronchioles terminate into about 300 million tiny air sacs (alveoli) which give lungs
their spongy texture

Gas exchange only occurs in the alveoli

Pressure
u

Scuba air
u

Normal atmospheric air that is

u

Compressed, filtered and dried

Colourless, odourless and tasteless

Pressure increases with depth

The greates pressure changes occur near the surface

Scuba requires further training beyond 18m and is considered dangerous beyond
40m.

Air is a mixture of gasses

u

Oxygen (21%), Nitrogen (78%) and other gasses 1% (including carbon dioxide and carbon
monoxide-usually only a trace)

Gas pressure in air

u

The total pressure is made up of the independent pressure due to nitrogen and oxygen

The independent pressure are referred as partial pressure

The toxicity of a gas is a direct result of its partial pressure not its percentage

Too much oxygen

u

Breathing air at 40m is equivalent to breathing pure oxygen on the surface

Pure oxygen on the surface can cause lung problems after 5-6 hours

Pure oxygen at depth greater than 6m can cause convulsion

Not enough oxygen

u

Unconsciousness and death can result from lower than normal level of oxygen e.g: drowning,
suffocation, strangulation, cardiac arrest

Hyperventilation (over-breathing)
u

More than three deep breaths before a breath hold dive constitutes dangerous hyperventilation

Does not significantly increase available oxygen

Breath-hold diving and underwater swimming can cause unconsciousness due to lack of oxygen

Sudden lost of consciouness and hence drowning can occur while still underwater.

Never hyperventilate before a breath-hold dive, underwater swim or free dive!

General First Aid

u

Shock
u

Physiological response leading to failure of circulatory system

Life threatening condition and must be identified(pale, rapid or shallow

breathing, weak pulse, dizziness and confusion) and treated quickly.

Lay patient down and elevate feet

Reassure

Protect from environment (out of sun if hot, blanket if cold)

Observe airway & breathing

Arrange medical assistance

Apply basic life support if necessary

Apply specific first aid for injury or illness

Severe Bleeding
u

Also known as Arterial bleeding is identified by bright red colour in blood; and
blood comes out in spurts

Must be controlled immediately

Never use a tourniquet a narrow constriction to the wound (eg:by using shoe lace,
rope and belt)

ACTION: apply pressure and elevation

u

Press clean cloth onto wound

Elevate wound if necessary and possible

Add new dressing over top old ones

If no dressing, bandages, or pads immediately available use hands directly on wound

When dealing with bleeding victims take extreme care to avoid cross infection

Do not move the patient unnecessarily

Envenomation
u

Cause by snake, cone shell blue ring octopus, spider bites and etc.

ACTION
u

apply pressure and immobilise

Apply a broad pressure bandage over the bites as soon as possible, keep the bitten area
still and do not wash wound.

Bandage should be as tight as you apply to a sprained ankle. Extend the bandage as high
as possible

Apply a splint to the limb and bind it firmly. Do not remove until proper medical support is
available.

Check circulation every 10-15 minutes, fingers and toes should remain pink or normal
sensation.

Gas Poisoning
u

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

u

Cause: Skip breathing, Tight equipment, Poor regulator function, Hard work, Deep diving

Direct contamination can also occur but is rare

Effect: increase rate and depth of breathing, increase heart rate, depression of the
nervous system, worsening of nitrogen narcosis, predisposition of Decompression Ilness,
predisposes of seasickness, unconsciouness and death.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

u

Colorless and odorless gas, extremely toxic even in small amount

Cause:

direct contamination from combustion engines e.g: vehicle near compressor inlet; poor siting of
portable compressor

Indirect contamination from compressor due to old or incorrect oil and poor maintenance

Effect: - CO kills red blood cells, therefore oxygen cant be transported via blood cells
and increase CO2 in the plasma.

Types of Bubble Trouble

u

Rapid on set Bubble Trouble

u

Air Embolism: gas bubbles in the blood stream (usually 0-5 minutes after surfacing)

Delayed Onset Bubble Trouble

u

Decompression Illness nitrogen bubbles in the tissues (usually 1-6 hours up to 24 hours)

Recognition: extreme fatigue, pain in chest, difficulty breathing, loss of balance,

confusion, headaches, numbness, speech difficulty, skin rashes/itching or
unconsciousness.

Treatment: recompression in a chamber

Minimizing the risk

u

Never hold your breath on ascent

Control ascent and always breath normally

Plan dives may reduce the risk

Never exceed the no-decompression limit

Avoid altitude after diving

Ear injuries
u

On descent
u

Blocked Eustachian tube

Failure to equalize Middle Ear

Poor technique

On ascent
u

Failure to automatically equalize Middle Ear due to blocked Eustachian Tube

Recognition: pain; bleeding from nose, mouth or ear; hearing difficulties;

vertigo; if ear drum ruptures - air can leak out when equalizing is attempted

Treatment: rest from diving until ears are functioning correctly

Prevention: always pressurizes ears on surface and continually equalize during

descent before pressure or pain is felt ;dont dive with a cold, fever or other
respiratory allergies; if equalization does not occur- surface with buddy

Dive Management Flow

Good
Preparation

Happy, safe
unstressed diver

Dive Management Flow

Poor
preparation

Stressed
diver

Uncontrolled
stress =
Accident

Stress
u Definition:

Mental or physical tension

caused by physiological or psychological
stimuli.

Physiological Stimuli
u

Exhaustion from:
u

Cold water, Poor surface skills, Tight wetsuit or equipment, Strong currents and,
Lack of physical fitness

Occurrence of an incident

Illness or injury

Nitrogen Narcosis

Carbon dioxide build-up (tight wetsuit @ equipment; over exertion)

Drugs or alcohol

Psychological stimuli
u

Perceived danger

Task loading

Lack of confidence in ability

Poor training

Inexperience

Recognition
u

Increase heart rate

Increasing breathing rate

Anxiety

Inability to complete simple tasks

Wide-eye look

Giving up

PANIC!

Sign of an Accident
u

Abnormal behaviour

Bleeding

Calls for help

Collapse

Convulsions

Coughing

Excessive sweeting

Experience pain

Incoordination

Pale colour

Unbalanced

Vomiting

Urgent or panicky swimming on surface

Primary Assessment (DR HABCDEF)

u

Danger

Response
Help
Airway

u
u

Breathing
u Compressions
u

u Defibrillate
u Effect CPR

u First Aid

End of slide