It is not uncommon for scuba divers to die. Some divers drown in spite of the many benefits that scuba diving offers. To avoid a repeat of this fate, learn the causes and symptoms. These are common mistakes that scuba divers make and can result in their death. Take the time to learn from the mistakes made by others and make sure you don't make them. It may save someone's life. Here are 5 common mistakes that scuba divers make.
Symptoms of a scuba diver's death
Asphyxia is the leading cause of death for scuba divers. It's not usually caused by one factor. Panic can however trigger an increase in gas consumption. Approximately 40% of deaths attributed to asphyxia were inexperienced divers or those separated from their diving buddies. Among this group, cardiac conditions and pulmonary barotrauma were associated with drowning. However, loss consciousness is the most common symptom. Other symptoms like loss of coordination and cardiac conditions may also be involved.
The first symptoms of decompression sickness for divers are usually a lack in oxygen. However, most symptoms disappear once the patient reaches the surface. To reduce swelling, barotrauma injuries (including a broken eardrum) can be treated with antibiotics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. To ensure that the injured area is fully healed, nitrogen narcosis must be treated before the diver may be re-introduced.
Triggers of a scuba diver's death
Most diving accidents result from panicked reactions. These panicked reactions can be irrational and reduce the chance of survival. Panic is when a diver finds himself in a dangerous situation and loses his ability to control his depth. His panicked response only makes the situation worse, and is ineffective. Eyewitness accounts of diving accidents show that panic plays a big role in a diver's death.
Problems with buoyancy are the leading cause of most diving fatalities. In fact, 52% of all incidents were caused by insufficient buoyancy and 8% due to excessive buoyancy. According to a DAN survey buoyancy issues were the leading cause of death. The use of wetsuits was also a factor in many fatalities. DAN published a formula for the approximate weight a diver should wear when diving.
Causes of the death of a scuba diver
Over 100 people drown each year while scuba diving. Other than equipment failure, other factors that could contribute to death include environmental hazards, heart disease, and inadvertently responding. Equipment failure can sometimes be the cause of death. In general, over 80% of these deaths are attributed to drowning, which obscures the true cause. Even though most scuba divers have plenty of breathing gas available at all times, accidents can still happen. Divers can drown from a variety of reasons, including unmanageable stress and cardiac disease.
If an older diver is experiencing difficulty breathing, it could be due to ischaemic cardiac disease. While asthmatics are sometimes prohibited from diving they only account for two to three per cent of all scuba divers. However, asthmatics make up nearly 9 percent of all deaths from diving. Other heart disorders, including drop attacks and long QT Syndrome, have been linked with drowning. These conditions can have serious consequences, regardless of their cause.
Divers make common mistakes
Recent research on scuba diver deaths has shown that most incidents are due to a diver's inability to plan and prepare properly. These are known as "precursor incidents." They can be minor or major. Most fatalities can be prevented with proper training and sound diving practices. There are still risks associated with diving. In addition to the risk of drowning, diving companies also must comply with federal and local laws.
Fatal accidents are often caused by insufficient gas or entanglement. Insufficient decompression time and entanglement were next. Insufficient training and experience can also result in a diver's death. Recent research showed that almost half of all fatalities resulted from improper decompression stops, and nearly all were due to buoyancy issues. Entrapment and insufficient gas were also common causes. Insufficient gas and inadequate training were the most common causes of fatal accidents, but there were cases of improper weights and procedures that may have resulted in a diver's death.