1. BSAC Incident Report 2018
Jim Watson
Incidents Advisor

2. Outline Clare Peddie – Incidents Advisor A review of the statistics
Some comments on the issues involved
Analysis of efficacy of rescue techniques
Conclusions on 2018
Report available in early November
Explain my continued presence
Thanks to Jim Watson for co-authoring
Thanks to Lizzie Bird for backroom work 2

3. 2018 overview
Currently the Incident year runs from Oct 1st to Sept 30th
250 incidents entered into the database
214 UK - sports diving, all affiliations
36 Overseas - involving BSAC members 3

4. UK Incidents by year Rose in the 90s
Plateaued in the first decade of this century around 390
Started to decline around 2010
Now plateauing again?? Around % down on the peak Remember this number when judging the data to come.
205 in 2018 lower than last few years but RNLI couldn’t support in time. Would have added another 19 reports; bringing the count to a similar level to recent times.
RNLI data will be added in so next year’s report will accurately represent
Could be less diving, less incidents or less reporting.
Thought to be the first two. 4

5. Incident types Describe the incident categories.
Current year in Yellow, previous 20 years in grey 1997
Explain Y axis
Fatalities 11 – A little below the norm
DCI – Up last year, down again this
Boating and surface incidents had been recently been showing a strong decline, down again this year
Ascent incidents had been falling from a peak in 2006, up a little this year
Illness – dropped then levelled out in the last three years much of this RNLI data saying ‘illness’ most probably DCI but not certain. This is likely to rise when the RNLI data are available. 5

6. Ascent related incidents
44 ascent related incidents reported (certainly a lot more)
18 Rapid ascent
13 Non-rapid ascent but missed stops
Causal factors for rapid ascents where factors are known
82% Panic
73% Poor buoyancy control
36% Weights or weighting issues
36% Other equipment problems
27% Out of gas
27% Delayed SMB problems
9% Drysuit controls problems
9% Free flowing regulators
Ascent related incidents that did not result in a more serious outcome.
Similar pattern to normal 6

7. Decompression Illness
56 cases recorded in 2018
Data analysis indicates:-
45% involve depths greater than 30m
41% within tables/computer limits
41% involve repeat diving
11% involve rapid ascents
7% involve missed decompression stops
Some cases involved more than one factor.
Factors largely unchanged 7

8. Monthly distribution of incidents
Like the previous three years had very bad weather in the early part of the year; but you can’t blame weather in 2014, 2015, 2016 or 2018
Is it less reporting, less diving or less incidents? 8

9. Coastguard assistance
Reflects a similar pattern to the overall situation,
The MCA are a very important source of information many thanks to them for their input
Coastguard history next slide – clue to reduced numbers 9

10. Helicopter involvement
Again a similar patter to the overall picture.
41 incidents
History next 10

11. RNLI assistance
RNLI picture distorted this year by the lack of RNLI data.
38 incidents in all, but these data are from other sources who record the involvement of lifeboats in an incident. I expect to add another 20 reports when the RNLI data are available.
RNLI history next 11

12. Fatalities Sadly we report 19 UK fatalities (10 year average = 13.2)
6 BSAC members (10 year average = 6.1)
13 non-BSAC members (10 year average = 7.1)
11 is slightly below the average but ‘small numbers’; 1 or 2 either way can make a big difference
Dive numbers have been falling 12

13. Monthly distribution of incidents
Like the previous three years had very bad weather in the early part of the year; but you can’t blame weather in 2014, 2015, 2016 or 2018
Is it less reporting, less diving or less incidents? 13

14. Fatalities by month
Notice the peaks in June and July. Given that our ‘peak time’ for diving (from the overall timing of incidents is August, this again shows a bias towards serious incidents at the beginning of people’s diving season. Only 20 incidents in total recorded in Jun 15% were fatalities!!
3 already in the 2018 year! 14

15. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 15

16. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 16

17. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 17

18. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
IPO
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 18

19. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
IPO
Out of gas
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 19

20. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
IPO
Out of gas
Unconscious - water
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 20

21. Immersion Pulmonary Oedema
Growing awareness of this potential serious problem
5 UK fatalities where IPO is suspected
7 other UK non-fatal incidents where IPO is suspected
1 overseas member fatality where IPO is suspected
2 overseas near-fatal incidents where IPO is confirmed
Pay attention for the following when diving -
Breathing difficulties without apparent reason
Rapid, uneven, heavy breathing
Coughing uncontrollably
Confusion
Belief that regulator is malfunctioning
Out of gas indicated but regulator clearly working
Refusing or rejecting alternate source
Difficulty breathing when on surface
If apparent – abort the dive
Return to surface as quickly as safely possible
Seek medical advice 21

22. Immersion Pulmonary Oedema22

23. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
IPO
Out of gas
Unconscious - water
Separation
Trio or more
Solo
IPO Identifying factors require a witness
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 23

24. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
IPO
Out of gas
Unconscious - water
Separation
Trio or more
Solo
Rapid ascent
Equipment
Heavy/sank
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 24

25. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
IPO
Out of gas
Unconscious - water
Separation
Trio or more
Solo
Rapid ascent
Equipment
Heavy/sank
Rebreather
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 25

26. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
IPO
Out of gas
Unconscious - water
Separation
Trio or more
Solo
Rapid ascent
Equipment
Heavy/sank
Rebreather
Trimix
> 50m
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 26

27. Fatalities – Related factors
BSAC
Non-BSAC
Insufficient info X
Medical ?
IPO
Out of gas
Unconscious - water
Separation
Trio or more
Solo
Rapid ascent
Equipment
Heavy/sank
Rebreather
Trimix
> 50m
Age
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s
Age, continues to feature in the details of the fatalities.
Average age this year years similar to last year
Average age being and includes 3 divers in their 70’s 27

28. Efficacy of Rescue techniques
Reported Use
Successful Outcome
Success Rate
Alternate Source1
125
107
85%
Controlled Buoyant lift1 81 63
78%
CPR1 82 13
16%
Oxygen-enriched CPR1 22 4
18%
AED use2 20 6
30%
1 analysis from data from inclusive 
2 data extracted from the entire database 
successful outcome defined as :
AS - casualty reaching surface without having to use free ascent
CBL - casualty reaching surface
Resuscitation techniques - casualty regaining consciousness 

29. Conclusions Number of incident reports levelling out over last 5 years
Reflecting amount of diving taking place?
Reflecting membership numbers?
Regretfully fatalities higher than previous years
Medical issues again feature strongly in the fatalities
Often too early to draw conclusions as outcome of inquests not available
IPO is a critical concern that all divers should be aware of 29