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2. |
Matters Arising
Dive Planning and Marshaling
Kate, Stewart and Pete are getting together to discuss AAS, DM
suitability and diver Recall. Kate is going to insist that all ocean
divers must have a demonstration and a practice at using a delayed
SMB. She will not sign off ocean diver until it has been done.
Ear Problems
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instructors are doing everything they can to prevent ear problems.
- Helen to point our dangers when potential trainees sign up so they
are aware of dangers before they pay.
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4. |
Diving Officer's Report
Having
heard from Lee about helicopter pilot training and comparing that
with diver training and learning to drive a car, I started to wonder
why they were so different. All three can involve life-threatening
incidents, as can crossing a road.
You
would think that the emphasis in each case would be put on training
people to deal with the most likely types of incident. It seemed to
me that the helicopter training put a lot of emphasis on prevention.
Probably if they do have an incident, chances are there won’t be
much the pilot will be able to do for the victims even if he
survives. Strangely, when we learn to drive a car, even though the
likelihood of having a crash is much higher, and there is a
possibility of needing life-saving or first-aid techniques, they are
not taught. And diving….if the training were based on incident
statistics, where would the emphasis lie? Fortunately, fatal
incidents are comparatively rare. A lot of time is spent teaching
CPR and AV even though statistically it is highly unlikely that it
will ever be needed. Incidents involving divers lost at the surface
are more frequent and yet virtually no time is spent teaching
trainees what to do. Even last weekend when I returned to the
surface after losing my buddy in Tye’s Tunnel, she had got back on
the boat and the boat had moved away. I was not able to attract
attention and found that I could not surface swim towards the boat
because of the current and surge. I had to go back through the
tunnel and surface on the other side of the headland near the boat.
It reminded me how difficult it can be to attract attention even
when the boat is only a short distance away. We are currently
compiling a list of recommendations for Dive Marshalling and perhaps
this should, when complete, be included in the Ocean Diver training.
It is not only the Dive Marshall that should know about the various
emergency procedures. What if he happened to be underwater when an
incident happened? As I have said before, I think there are
significant omissions from the Ocean Diver syllabus and I feel that
we as a club should look very carefully at what our divers really
should know.
On a
more positive note…in a recent ‘out of air’ incident in Scotland,
our club members handled the situation in a commendable way, proving
how useful their training had been. Well done Diane for reacting
calmly and efficiently and helping Jill to the surface using your
octopus.
Kate
Falkingham , DO
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5. |
Training Officers Report
Ocean Diver have finished in pool – there are now 12 ocean divers
that need open water training.
Sport Diver has their last lecture tonight – having mock exam next
week. These are now doing AV in the pool. Sport divers almost ready
for open water.
There has been an issue arising regarding whether a person can
qualify for open water if they haven’t used a dry suit. One lady has
been using a semi-dry. There seems to be no issue if the trainee
only wants to do summer diving or overseas diving.
Lifesaving Award Course will commence on July 25th by a
regional instructor.
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