PADI RESCUE DIVER INFORMATION

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PADI's RESCUE DIVER is an exciting course that will:

     · Teach you how to help other divers

     · Give you the authority to take charge in diving emergencies

     · Allow you to continue toward Divemaster or Instructor

     · Make diving safer for yourself and other divers

     · Provide you with expert information

     · Be educational and fun!

Prerequisites prior to starting the Rescue Diver course:

     Advanced Diver certification from a national certification organization.

Prerequisites prior to ending the Rescue Diver course:

Requirements:

Fee: $300.00 for the course

Location: DEEP-SIX UNDERWATER SYSTEMS, Lake Mohonk and/or Lake Minnewaska

2021Dates for Course: To Be Determined. Call if you want to be included

Time: 0930 (Sharp) - 1730 hours

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Divers Alert Network Emergency Hotline Number: 1-919-684-9111

NEW YORK STATE GOOD SAMARITAN LAW
Common Law: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Generally speaking, there is no duty to come to the aid of somebody that has been in an accident and in need of emergency medical assistance. However, not long ago, if you attempted to render medical assistance to somebody and botched the rescue, chances were you would be sued. Therefore, educated bystanders wouldn't dare attempt a rescue.
Since the common law discouraged bystanders from attempting to render medical assistance to those in need, the legislature, recognizing this result was both unacceptable and undesirable, enacted in 2000 what is generally referred to as the Good Samaritan law.
Effect of the Law
New York's Good Samaritan law carves out specific circumstances when an individual shall not be held liable for ordinary negligence in attempting to render medical assistance. Instead, they will only be held liable in cases of gross negligence.
Gross Negligence
Simply put, negligence is a failure to exercise ordinary care. Gross negligence means a failure to use even slight care, or is conduct that is so careless as to show complete disregard for the rights and safety of others.
When it Applies
The law isn't found in one centralized part, but rather integrated into various provisions of the NY Public Health Law and the NY Education Law.
Importantly, New York's Good Samaritan law is limited to medical treatment or assistance. The heart of the law is found in Pub. Health Law §3000-a, which provides in part:
Any person who voluntarily and without expectation of monetary compensation renders first aid or emergency treatment at the scene of an accident or other emergency outside a hospital, doctor's office or any other place having proper and necessary medical equipment, to a person who is unconscious, ill, or injured, shall not be liable for damages for injuries alleged to have been sustained by such person or for damages for the death of such person alleged to have occurred by reason of an act or omission in the rendering of such emergency treatment unless it is established that such injuries were or such death was caused by gross negligence on the part of such person.
Voluntary Act; No Expectation of Monetary Compensation
An important theme here is that the person act both voluntarily, and without the expectation of monetary compensation. This is significant because the protection extends to dentists (Educ. on Law §661[6]), physicians (Educ. Law §6527[2]), nurses (Educ. Law §6909[1]), physicians assistants (Educ. Law §6547) and physical therapists (Educ. Law §6737), provided they are not in a place having proper and necessary medical equipment, and are not rendering their professional or licensed services in the ordinary course of their practices.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Epinephrine Auto-Injector (Epi-pen) Devices
The law is somewhat different, however, for emergency health care providers, or those persons or entities that purchase or make available Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices, or Epinephrine Auto-Injector devices. In those cases, the emergency health care provider, person or entity, shall not be held liable for the use of that equipment if a person voluntarily and without expectation of monetary compensation renders first aid or emergency medical treatment, and shall also not be held liable for the use of defectively manufactured equipment.
However, the law expressly states it shall not limit claims against the emergency health care provider, person or entity that purchased or made available that equipment from its own negligence, gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Pub. Health Law §3000-a(2). See, also, Pub. Health Law §3000-b (Automated External Defibrillators) and Pub. Health Law §3000-c (Epinephrine Auto-Injector).
Go Ahead, Be a Hero
Once again, it is safe to play superhero, but remember to use at least ordinary care.
(NOTE: Emergency medical technicians and volunteer ambulance services are subject to more technical provisions under Pub. Health Law §3013.)


This is the DAN Oxygen Use Survey Card (Page 1):

Page 2

Download a .pdf of the DAN O2 Use Survey Card

Oxygen Exam

Rescue Diver Notes

Poor judgment is the most common cause of diver emergencies
Diving beyond experience or education
Poor decisions during the dive
Omitted safety checks

Before attempting an in-water rescue:
Do you know what you are doing?
Do you have the training necessary?
Do you have the equipment necessary?
Can you stay safe?

Diver Emergency Preparedness
First Aid kit
Minor problems or stabilize major ones
Protection for yourself (gloves)
Have slate in it for documentation on patient
O2
DCI
Stroke
Cardiac problems
Near drowning
AED

Rescue divers may be skilled assistants or emergency managers

Two or more victims:
Determine who needs the most help
Buoyancy for lesser victim(s)
Assist most in trouble
More than one in panic – wait until exhaustion.

BLS
Near-drowning
Cardiac arrest
Stroke
DCS
Lung overexpansion
Heat stroke
Hypothermia
Choking
Diabetic shock
Shock
If less than 5 minutes to shore, boat, etc. continue rescues breaths. If more than 5 minutes ventilate for 1 more minute. If no signs of life discontinue rescue breaths until shore or boat are available.

Do not check for pulse in the water.


From Dive Training 6/2005:

Traditionally, diving physicians have considered diabetes an absolute contraindication for diving, so until recently anyone with the disorder was banned from diving. Then, in 1996, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) held a conference to discuss the topic in-depth. Many researchers and clinicians believed that. with proper management. there was no need to disqualify non-insulin-dependent diabetics, and that even those with the insulin-dependent form should be viewed on a case-by-case basis. Their rationale was that underwater hypoglycemic events were not as common as many believed. Yet, the conference attendees warned, the risk does undisputedly exist, and divers with diabetes who experience a hypoglycemic attack while underwater risk drowning. Furthermore, they can endanger their buddies in the process. Two particular issues concerned workshop participants. One was that dehydration was of special concern for diabetics; and that hypoglycemia in deep dives could be wrongly perceived as nitrogen narcosis.
Diabetics who shouldn't dive are those who have had a serious hypoglycemic episode in the past 12 months; have advanced secondary complications of the disease; have poor control of their blood sugar; are unaware of the early warning signs of hypoglycemia; and lack insight into the relationship between diabetes and exercise.