Near
Drowning and the Unresponsive Diver
Near
drowning occurs when someone revives
a diver or Swimmer who became unresponsive
(unconscious, or unable to respond or
act coherently) and stopped breathing
while submerged. Swallowing water, extreme
fatigue, entanglement and long over
pressurization may be the cause, with
panic, inefficient breathing, throat
blockage, exhaustion, heart stoppage
and unconsciousness contributing.
With
an unresponsive diver, the primary concern
is to check for breathing and to begin
rescue breaths if the isn't breathing.
If a diver is unresponsive underwater,
bring the diver to the surface; someone
may need to perform rescue breathing
in the water, and if the victim has
no pulse, CPR. You can't perform CPR
effectively in water, so you need to
get the diver out of the water.
Here
are the four general procedures to follow
if a diver appears to lose consciousness
and becomes unresponsive in the water:
1.
Quickly bring the diver to the surface
and check for breathing.
2. Establish ample positive buoyancy
for you and the victim.
3. Get assistance as needed in providing
rescue breathing.
4. Help remove the diver from the water.
Assistance
continues once out of the water, with
the following steps also applying to
a diver who, after diving, becomes unconscious
or experiences symptoms of lung over
expansion injury.
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