SAFETY continued
reports. Do not delay care while trying to produce a perfect timeline. An approximate time recorded in good faith is better than a precise time created later from memory. Managing the Rest of the Scene A serious accident rarely involves only the injured diver. Other customers may still be in the water. Equipment may be scattered around the boat. Staff may be distressed. Friends or family members may demand information that is not yet available. Someone must remain responsible for the larger operation. Complete a head count. Confirm that all divers have been recovered. Secure the vessel or site. Stop further diving if continuing would be unsafe or would disturb evidence. Identify everyone who was present and obtain reliable contact information. Customers should be told that an emergency has occurred and that the operation is responding. They should not be given theories, medical conclusions or statements about who may be responsible. “I don’t know yet” is an acceptable answer when it is true. Caring for the Family How a dive operation treats an injured diver’s family matters. It matters morally, professionally and, sometimes, legally. As- sign one person to serve as the family li- aison. That person can help the family locate the hospital, arrange transportation, retrieve luggage or identification and un- derstand who to contact. The liaison should be compassionate without speculating about the accident. Avoid statements such as: Even well-intended statements can be inaccurate or misun- derstood. Do not pressure the injured person or family to sign documents or provide statements. Do not make medical promises. Respect the diver’s privacy and share medical in- formation only with proper authorization. Compassion does not require an admission of fault. It requires treating people with dignity during what may be the worst day of their lives. Protecting the Equipment Once the diver has been transferred to medical personnel, attention must turn to the equipment. The equipment may “He must have panicked.” ▪ “Her equipment failed.” ▪ “The divemaster did everything correctly.” ▪ “This has never happened before.” ▪ “Our insurance will take care of everything.” ▪
help explain what occurred. It may also become important evidence. That includes personally owned equipment and equipment supplied by the operator. Identify and secure: Regulators ▪ Cylinders and remaining breathing gas ▪ Buoyancy compensators ▪
Weight systems ▪ Dive computers ▪ Rebreathers ▪ Exposure protection ▪ Masks, fins and snorkels ▪ Cameras and lights ▪ Surface-marker buoys ▪
Any equipment recovered separately from the diver ▪ Photograph the equipment as found when practical. Record who recovered it and who handled it. Do not rinse, clean, repair, test or disassemble it. Do not automatically send it back to the manufacturer. Do not place rental equipment back into service. A dive computer can be especially im- portant. Do not press buttons, recharge it or download its information unless advised by qualified investigators or counsel. Some computers may overwrite data, change displays or record later activity. The cylinder should be secured with its remaining gas intact whenever safely possible. Even checking pressure or closing a valve should be documented. Begin a basic chain-of-custody record showing where each item was stored and every person who had access to it. Record the Conditions As soon as practical, document the environment: Date and location ▪ Boat or site position ▪ Weather ▪ Water temperature ▪
How a dive operation treats an injured diver’s family matters. It matters morally,
professionally and, sometimes, legally.
Visibility ▪ Current ▪ Surface conditions ▪ Entry and exit points ▪ Planned and actual depth ▪ Planned and actual dive time ▪ Tank assignments ▪ Buddy teams ▪ Staff assignments ▪
16 | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
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