SAFETY continued Besides scuba divers, snorkelers and free-divers should be aware of the potential for cardiac-related issues. Research on snorkeling and breath-hold diving fatalities in Australia, using data supplied by the Australasian Diving Safety Foundation, analyzed 317 deaths between 2000–2021. The research showed that victims are frequently older (median age 48–59), male, and often have pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, such as ischemic heart disease or left ventricular hypertrophy. Overweight or obese individuals are overrepresented, and many incidents
breathing resistance through a snorkel. Maintaining general good health and having an annual physical performed by a physician familiar with diving medicine and your life priorities is perhaps the most effective way to reduce the likelihood of these types of accidents. It is important that your healthcare provider understands that scuba diving is an important component of your active lifestyle so that they take that into consideration when providing you with your fitness to dive advice. One caveat is that scuba diving should never be so important that your participation in the sport endangers yourself or those you dive with. Also, any time there is a noticeable change in your health, you should consult a healthcare professional. Regular medical evaluations are recommended for those over the age of 40 and may help identify health conditions that may need attention prior to diving. These regular health checks should also include a periodic cardiac evaluation. Once diagnosed, a physician may advise against continuing to dive or impose modified diving habits or limits. Remember, if your family physician or other healthcare professional is unfamiliar with diving, you can consult DAN for a referral to a physician familiar with diving medicine or to consult with your family physician or healthcare provider. A word to the wise, a physician who dives may not be sufficiently familiar with diving medicine or all the medical conditions associated with scuba diving. Therefore, the Medical Department at DAN should be considered a valuable resource by your family physician. It is also important that your family physician understands your life priorities. If your physician understands that recreational diving is an important part of your lifestyle, they are less likely to simply declare that you stop diving at a certain age without fully understanding what health conditions may allow you to continue to safely enjoy diving or snorkeling. The best way to avoid cardiac-related issues in diving and not put yourself or your diving companions at risk is to adopt a healthy lifestyle, have regular health evaluations in- cluding a periodic cardiac evaluation and always be aware of signs or symptoms of a potential medical problem. It’s far better to ‘call the dive’ or ‘call for help’ than to risk a tragic outcome. A good healthy philosophy is just as essential as any piece of life support equipment. (Note: The above issues are covered in detail in the free we-
are considered "silent" cardiac events occurring at the surface, rather than just drowning. Also, the Hawaii Snorkel Safety Study indicates that many fatalities once thought to be from water inhalation are now believed to be caused by Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema (ROPE), a sudden buildup of fluid in the lungs triggered by
binars that are available to any group of divers at no charge. If your group is interested, please contact me at danorr@danorrconsulting.com) Contact Dan for article references.
email Dan Orr
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