Diver Safety Seminar 2009

Summary of Meeting Highlights

Fortunately, the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber hosted again the Diver Safety Symposium in San Pedro on April 1.  It was a very informative meeting and helped to educate us about the latest happenings in our dive community.  Below is my brief synopsis of the various discussions and highlights that I thought you might find interesting.

Karl Huggins, Director of USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber

Monica Bradley, RN - Nurse Educator & Divermaster

is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmia of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

• In a cardiac emergency ever minute that passes without treatment, there is an 10 percent decrease in survival. Estimates are that 20-30% of death in scuba diving is from cardiac emergencies.  If you're over 35 years old, it accounts for 26% of diver fatalities.  In 3 to 5 minutes is when irreversible brain/tissue damage may begin to occur

• Licensed health clubs in California are now mandated by law to have one. Airports, even paramedics use them. Size is very small, 2.76 in. x 8.27 in. x 7.48 in. and about 3 lbs.

• Cost of AED is from $800 to $3000; battery (lasts for ~4 years) and pads (replaced after each use) replacement costs are about $60 in total.  Costco now sells them.  Very small size makes them ideal for travel to remote local and foreign destinations.   What price is human life?

• AEDs are designed to be used by laypersons who ideally should have received AED training.  The demonstration of the model present used an electronic voice to prompt users through each step of the process. The AED tells you whether a shock truly needs to be delivered; how to do it and compression breaths afterward.  As responding divers, we must dry off the patient and remove/cut any wetsuits to administer, and not be in contact with any water or the person.

Sandy Needle, Search and Rescue Controller, US Coast Guard Sector LA/LB Command Center and Dennis Moyer, Rescue Swimmer, US Coast Guard Air Station LAX

• Channel 16 is monitored, 30 minute window on response
• Launch from LAX and have to choose if they take a basket or litter (depending on if the person is conscious)  Room on the helicopter for one patient and one small less than 25 lb. bag. Dr. Jeff Sipsey, Hyperbaric Medical Director, LAC+ USC Medical Center
• Key issue of a medical ailment is the reaction to exercise tolerance and the relative risks.
• Of the 40 to 60 % of serious DCS, decompression illness cases, higher percent had existing medical problems. Captain Matt Lutton, Baywatch Lifeguard/Paramedic, LA County Lifeguards, LA County Fire Department
• During the emergency call - make sure to be as specific as possible about your location; multiple places have the same or similar names.
• Make sure to write down all pertinent details about the accident, and person and send with the patient.
• Do not turn off the air tank, unless it is leaking air and then count the number of turns to turn off.  Otherwise, do not touch gear or remove an air integrated dive computer; instead write computer info down.  This is very important to be able to fully understand and investigate an accident
• Also if the diver disappears in the water, promptly mark the last sighting with a buoy.

Jim Pearson, Investigator, Dive Casualty Investigations Team Sector LA/LB, US Coast Guard Auxillary
Dave Carver, Deputy/Paramedic, Emergency Services Detail, LA County Sheriff Department
Ken Kurtis, Forensic Consultant, LA County Department of Coroner

• Assist investigations into dive accidents
• Sheriff has 3 helicopters, can take up to 5 or 6 patients, perform land and ocean rescues, each has 2 pilots, 2 paramedics; Crew chief, but only operate from 9 am - 8 pm.
• Reports are on 1) gear functionality and 2) circumstances of a dive accident; accidents usually fall into 5% Bad Luck, 25% Bad Health, 70% Bad Diving

John Kades, Investigator, LA County Department of the Coroner
• All information is accessible to the public; also has gift store. 250 employees, 20-25 doctors
• 10 million people in LA County; 80,000 die per year; 20,000 per year under coroner jurisdictions, 10,00 are rejected, 10,000 are investigated of which 8,000 autopsies are performed.
• 2 million active divers, 100 scuba related deaths per year; in LA Country 3 to 5 scuba fatalities.
• 40 percent of all scuba deaths are due to medical complications and of those half had pre-existing conditions, either known or unknown. In 2009, we've had 2 deaths; 64.7% are attributed to drowning; others include trauma, hypothermia, etc.
• Almost impossible to determine if someone drowns as the victim often doesn't have any water in the lungs or they may have drowned because of something else.  Take home message is that diver health is the one thing we can safeguard and control.
• If you know of a dive fatality prior to 1994, John asks that you contact him as they only have the dive fatalities in 2000 in the computer and have few records prior to 1994.
• Jkades@coroner.lacounty.gov, direct line (323) 343-0604; investigations (323) 343-0714 (24hrs/day)