TRAINING Rescue Training Succes for Your Shop – by Patrick Hammer, PADI CD-4325
Some dive centers do not sell a rescue program; they do not see the value to the diver. Some do not see value to the diving center. I would like to address these two points.
lishing bouncy and dropped me. These skills as well as the exit from land or boat are important to the development of a good rescue diver. Dive centers will benefit from training rescue divers in a few ways. The first is to have better trained divers in your group. Another way is to develop divers eager to learn more and they will take continuing education from you. I believe most rescue divers own their own equipment, and these sales are also good for the diving center. The rescue class gives the center a chance to not only sell this program but the First Aid and CPR classes along with the O2 class. So, the store was creating safer divers, selling more classes and equipment. I fail to see any downside to this. You might also find out the rescue diver move on the Master SCIBA program creating even more sale for the dive center, and another rwin! Face it you may elect to teach new divers all the time or en- hance your program by offering rescue class. I would hate to teach the same course over and over, so rescue is a nice ad- dition to my training. Offer as many classes as you can, even if you only have one or two. When other divers see it, they will start to ask questions about the program. Let the new divers play victims on the surface. Use a more experienced
I have conducted Rescue training since the early seventies and have always considered it to be one of the best courses for divers and for the dive center and boats. How the diver benefits are not only as a confidence builder program. They gain more experience under the supervision of a dive pro- fessional. A new diver completing the rescue program is not only better equipment to help others, but they are also more focused on their rig, and skills. From arriving at the site to set up the rig to dive planning. All these skills are improved in the rescue class. Then of course they are the in-water skills. The diver learns to help himself during self-rescue skills and helps his buddy. This is a huge asset to the dive center, when you have groups out, you now have more eyes watching oth- ers. It makes the industry safer as well. The rescue class will teach the diver land skills, surface skills and underwater skills. We all want to believe that a diver com-
pleting my course will never get in trou- ble, and that is just not true. No one can predict when we have a massive air loss or health issue underwater. But training others to assist is a huge asset. I once heard an instructor tell his student that they took his class and will not run out
diver for underwater skills. I always try to have new divers around to see other classes at the dive site, this is a great selling tool. Teaching rescue classes is also good for the instructor, keeping their skills sharp, in the unlikely even they need to perform a rescue. Rember, divers will do what is
of air. Like he knows when an Oring would blow. These are statemets that hurt us all. Be honest, a problem can arise, but being ready to handle it is far better than swimming away to get help. In all my years, I have never had a diver feel like the rescue class was a waste of money and or time. Most find the program enjoyable a fun. I make the skill development fun and as real as I can. In the out of air skill, I will swim up with no regulator and see how fast the respond, I do have my alternate in my hand just in case I need it. When they are bringing the unconscious diver up, I play dead ad best as I can. Yu might be surprised once at the surface they drop me. Yes, I have had a few times when the rescue diver was estab-
taught and muscle memory might take over in a rescue, so do not call for pizza, we sure do not need one to show up in the class. Send for help. You do not need to yell, and when teaching at a busy park, be sure they know what you are doing. I used to have a sign by the beach stating rescue class in progress, do not call for help. We all can make the industry safer when conducting the rescue program. Enjoy your career and have fun with the res-
cue class. By the way I have had rescue divers learn CPR from me and had me come their business to teach a group CPR class.
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