Unit 7: Problem Solving Diving Situations. Assisting Other Divers. Rescues. Emergencies and First Aid. Safety in Summary. Responsible Scuba Diving Practices. Instructor Materials: Teaching notes, various training aids use to demonstrate topics of problem solving. INTRODUCTION Attention Step: Diving always entails some degree of risk. Even if you do everything right, there is still a slight but real possibility that you might be injured, or even killed, while under water. Importance of Value: Fortunately, diving accidents are rare, and you can avoid them by solving small problems early – before they become big problems. Main Points: See presentation slides. Student Materials and Conduct: note taking material, student book kit, and your undivided attention Body: See presentation slides.

Student Performance: By the end of the lesson students will be able to: State the general method for resolving problems under water. List situations that can occur under water and how to resolve them and the prevention of each. Describe how to assist another diver if they are having a problem. Explain the steps needed to rescue a diver at the surface and under water. Describe the first aid for aquatic injuries. State the importance of safe diving practices. Performance Statement: Describe to the students what, by the end of this lesson, will be expected of them, and to what degree.

Diving Situations You can deal with most situations if you stop to analyze and cope with them calmly. General method of resolving a problem: Heat loss: Overheating: Cramps: Entanglement: General Method: There are three steps to solving a problem under water: Stop your activity. Get firm control of yourself and analyze the situation. Take action based on your analysis. Heat Loss: If you become cold while diving, you must rewarm yourself. End your dive and get out of the water. Get into warm, dry clothing as soon as possible. Layers of clothing or blankets also help to trap warmth near your body. Warm drinks will help, but avoid any with caffeine or alcohol. A warm, not hot, bath might also help. Overheating: You must take action immediately to lower your body temperature. If you are in a wetsuit, jump into the water for a quick cool-off dip. If you cannot do this, get out of your exposure suit and get wet to start cooling down. If you are not nauseous, you can drink cool water to rehydrate your body. Cramps: The best way to deal with this problem is to prevent cramps before they occur. Avoid becoming chilled or exhausted, and avoid wearing protective clothing that is too tight. Entanglement: . First, stop your activity and get control. Second, determine where you are caught and what object has caught you. Remain calm.

Diving Situations continued You can deal with most situations if you stop to analyze and cope with them calmly. Disorientation or vertigo: Equipment difficulties: Seasickness: Choking or coughing: Air starvation: Disorientation: To overcome dizziness, hold onto a solid object or hug yourself until the dizziness passes. Do not close your eyes. To know which way is up, look at your bubbles. Air always rises. Equipment Difficulties: You can adjust almost every piece of equipment while in the water. If you must make an adjustment, first think about what you need to do, then work slowly and deliberately to make the adjustment Seasickness: If you start to feel nauseous while on the boat, do the following to help prevent seasickness: 1. Avoid eating greasy foods. 2. Stay out of the cabin or any enclosed space on the boat. 3.Settle yourself in a spot midway between the bow (front) and stern (back) of the boat and between the starboard (right) and port (left) sides. This is the boat’s midpoint. The boat is most stable at its midpoint. 4. Look at the horizon. Choking: If you must cough, keep the regulator or snorkel in your mouth. Keeping the mouthpiece in place will help you not breathe in any more water, which will make the situation worse. Air Starvation: Concentrate on breathing slowly and deeply until you regain control of your breathing and the feeling of air starvation will pass. Be sure to exhale completely!

Review on Diving Situations What have you learned so far? State for each of the following problems at least one correct action you can take to prevent them : Chilling Overheating Muscle cramps Vertigo Seasickness Coughing Air starvation Summarize this section Review the main points of each slide: Emphasize key points of each main point. State the objective statements as questions.

Assisting Other Divers As a diver you have two responsibilities to your buddy. Keep problems from occurring and overcome problems that do occur. Most diving problems occur at the surface rather than under water. Three actions that must be taken: Establishing buoyancy Resting and breathing Providing assistance Establishing buoyancy: It might be necessary to help them inflate their BC or drop their weights. Resting and breathing: Once your buddy has flotation, you must get your buddy to rest and breathe deeply. Providing assistance: Try to get your buddy to solve their own problem. If this is not possible, or your directions are not followed, you will have to provide direct assistance. The best assist is one done casually – even unnoticed.

Review on Assisting Other Divers What have you learned so far? Name two responsibilities you have to your buddy. State where most diving problems occur. List steps to assisting a buddy in distress. Summarize this section Review the main points of each slide: Emphasize key points of each main point. State the objective statements as questions.

Rescues Most emergencies in the water are preventable, and many usually occur because divers violate safety rules. At the surface: Under water: In water artificial respiration: At the surface: If a diver is apparently unconscious at the surface, use the following steps to perform a rescue: See textbook. Under water: If you find an apparently unconscious victim under water, your primary concern is getting them to the surface. Use the following steps when rescuing a diver under water: See textbook. In water artificial respiration: Use the following procedure to administer in-water artificial respiration: See textbook.

Review on Rescues What have you learned so far? State when a diving emergency occurs to a diver. List four types of recommended emergency training. State the first action you should take when assisting an unconscious diver at the surface. State your first concern when assisting an unconscious diver at the bottom. List the two most important points for providing in-water artificial respiration. List the two most important things to do for a non-breathing diver in the water. Summarize this section Review the main points of each slide: Emphasize key points of each main point. State the objective statements as questions.

Emergencies and First Aid You might be the only person available to offer immediate assistance. Be prepared. Basic first aid. CPR and oxygen administration. Aquatic life injuries. Prevention. Treatment. Be prepared: To prepare yourself to handle emergencies, you need training, emergency equipment, emergency contact information and plans, and the determination to act. The first rule of first aid is to “Do No Further Harm.” Basic first aid: First aid must include the following: 1. A quick examination of the victim to determine the seriousness of the injury. 2. Immediate treatment for life-threatening emergencies such as cessation (stopping) of breathing or arterial bleeding. 3. Treatment for less serious injuries and shock. 4. Arrangements for medical care and transport. CPR and oxygen: You should have training in first aid and artificial respiration. Everyone, diver or not, should be prepared to administer first aid and especially cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Aquatic life injuries: General first aid training does not cover treatment of injuries from aquatic life, although most of the general procedures also apply to this specialty area. General guidelines are presented here. Prevention: Avoid potential problems with aquatic life in your area by learning how to identify hazardous creatures and how to avoid them. Treatment: Sea urchins, spiny fish, or stingrays can cause puncture wounds. Jellyfish or coral can cause stings. Almost any aquatic animal can bite. First aid can range from simple, antiseptic cleaning of the wound to control of serious bleeding.

Review on Emergencies and First Aid What have you learned so far? List four requirements for being prepared to handle a diving emergency. Name two things you should do to ensure your skills will be adequate in an emergency. Summarize this section Review the main points of each slide: Emphasize key points of each main point. State the objective statements as questions.

Safety in Summary Diving safety is primarily a matter of knowing the rules, following them, and being prepared. Diving safety involves attitude. “Diving safety is no accident”. Diving safety involves attitude Being aware of safe diving practices, both generally and locally, and following them will do more than anything else to ensure your safety. Diving safety is no accident You should abide by the NAUI Recommended Diving Practices, summarized in Appendix B. By applying these principles, you will see for yourself that the saying “Diving safety is no accident” is not merely a play on words.

Responsible Scuba Diving Practices You must be trained for what you plan to do. Your Training should continue Dive only when you feel well mentally and physically. Maintain your equipment Know your dive location. Follow recommended diving practices. “Dive Safety Through Education” Your training should continue: Your training should continue with advanced, specialty, and refresher courses to keep your knowledge and skills current and progressing. Dive only when you feel well mentally and physically: Only dive when you are feeling well, mentally and physically. Annual physical examinations are important. Do not dive under the influence of drugs, including prior indulgence in alcohol. Keep yourself in good physical condition, know your limits, dive within them, and maintain a reserve of energy and air as margins of safety. Maintain your equipment: You must properly maintain your equipment according to the manufacturer's recommendations and check it before each dive. Have it serviced professionally as the manufacturer recommends, and use all recommended equipment when diving. Know your dive location: Respect the environment, and avoid dangerous sites and poor diving conditions. Follow recommended practices: If you follow the Recommended Diving Practices presented to you by your NAUI instructor from the outset of your training, they will soon become part of your routine and you will perform them with little effort. “Dive Safety Through Education”: Make this your goal, and you will set yourself on a good course to avoid the hazards of diving. Safety is an attitude, and this is reflected in the NAUI motto “Dive Safety Through Education.

Problem Solving End of Unit 7: Diving Situations. Assisting Other Divers. Rescues. Emergencies and First Aid. Safety in Summary. Responsible Scuba Diving. Practices. Transition Statement: Diving safety primarily involves attitude. Safety occurs when a diver respects the environment and wants to be properly prepared for diving. For divers who are prepared for emergencies and follow the buddy system as well as other good diving practices, safety is simply a byproduct of that attitude. Review of Main Points: See this presentation slide. Emphasize Key Points: Ask Students for Questions:

Student Performance: By the end of the lesson students will be able to: State the general method for resolving problems under water. List situations that can occur under water and how to resolve them and the prevention of each. Describe how to assist another diver if they are having a problem. Explain the steps needed to rescue a diver at the surface and under water. Describe the first aid for aquatic injuries. State the importance of safe diving practices. Restate the students performance statements as questions: Assignment: Instruct the students read chapter 8 in preparation for the next lesson.