Rebreather World - View Single Post - What do you do if a convulsion happens to your buddy?

Genesis · 21st April 2006, 00:05

My view is this (whether on OC or CC doesn't change much).... this is what I'd like someone I'm diving with to do, and this is what I will do:

1. I will not ascend a diver with an active convulsion in progress. That will almost certainly kill him due to air embolism.

2. A diver that has convulsed (suspected or seen) and who has a regulator in his mouth is going to be assessed for muscle tone (e.g. are you still seizing) and when the airway can be opened (or is open) will be ascended slowly.

3. If the victim has lost his mouthpiece, I will not attempt to "replace" it, but WILL attempt to seal (externally) a mouthpiece with a breathable mix against the lips in the hope that if breathing resumes air will be inspired instead of water. If respiration begins I will THEN attempt to replace the mouthpiece during an exhale IF I judge it possible to do so without drowning the victim. In all cases I will act to the best of my ability to insure that the mouthpiece so presented has air in it and not water.

4. If the victim has significant decompression accrued and DOES NOT begin breathing by the time I reach the first mandatory stop, I will at that time decide what MY risk is of blowing off the decompression I have accrued to surface with the victim. If that risk is unreasonable, I will send the victim up an upline so as to assure that he is not "lost". If that risk is REASONABLE, I will ascend with him.

5. If the victim BEGINS or IS breathing, I will perform as much of the decompression as I am able on the gas he is breathing. So long as he is breathing, he is alive and will remain so; compounding whatever happened originally with a DCS hit is not something I am willing to do. I will blow that deco schedule only if I must due to gas limitations or the victim ceasing respiration at some point during the ascent.

I believe that's the "best shot" at both of us surviving the event.....

21st April 2006, 00:05	#9 (permalink)
Genesis Bubbless Box of Death Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 1,395	Re: What do you do if a convulsion happens to your buddy? My view is this (whether on OC or CC doesn't change much).... this is what I'd like someone I'm diving with to do, and this is what I will do: 1. I will not ascend a diver with an active convulsion in progress. That will almost certainly kill him due to air embolism. 2. A diver that has convulsed (suspected or seen) and who has a regulator in his mouth is going to be assessed for muscle tone (e.g. are you still seizing) and when the airway can be opened (or is open) will be ascended slowly. 3. If the victim has lost his mouthpiece, I will not attempt to "replace" it, but WILL attempt to seal (externally) a mouthpiece with a breathable mix against the lips in the hope that if breathing resumes air will be inspired instead of water. If respiration begins I will THEN attempt to replace the mouthpiece during an exhale IF I judge it possible to do so without drowning the victim. In all cases I will act to the best of my ability to insure that the mouthpiece so presented has air in it and not water. 4. If the victim has significant decompression accrued and DOES NOT begin breathing by the time I reach the first mandatory stop, I will at that time decide what MY risk is of blowing off the decompression I have accrued to surface with the victim. If that risk is unreasonable, I will send the victim up an upline so as to assure that he is not "lost". If that risk is REASONABLE, I will ascend with him. 5. If the victim BEGINS or IS breathing, I will perform as much of the decompression as I am able on the gas he is breathing. So long as he is breathing, he is alive and will remain so; compounding whatever happened originally with a DCS hit is not something I am willing to do. I will blow that deco schedule only if I must due to gas limitations or the victim ceasing respiration at some point during the ascent. I believe that's the "best shot" at both of us surviving the event..... __________________ "A venturesome minority will always be eager to get off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks for Godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches - that is the right and privilege of any free American." http://www.denninger.net http://www.diversunion.org/liability.htm - Fix the Diving Cert racket
(Offline)