Deaths of scuba divers are quite common. Despite the numerous benefits of scuba diving, some divers end up in the water dead. To prevent this from happening again, you should be familiar with the signs and causes of fatalities in scuba diving. These are the most common mistakes that scuba divers make that can lead to their deaths. Take what you have learned from others and learn how to avoid them. This could save your life. Here are 5 common mistakes that scuba divers make.
Symptoms of a scuba diver's death
Although panic can cause increased gas consumption, asphyxia is not the most common cause of death in scuba divers. 40% of those who died from asphyxia were either inexperienced divers or had to be separated from their buddies. The most common causes of drowning were cardiac conditions and lung barotrauma. While loss of consciousness is the most common sign, other symptoms such as loss or coordination may also be present.
The most common symptoms of decompression illness in divers is a lack oxygen. But, these symptoms usually disappear once the patient has reached the surface. To minimize swelling, you can use antibiotics and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs for barotrauma, which includes a fractured eardrum. The injured body part should be completely healed before nitrogen narcosis can be administered.
Triggers leading to the death a scuba diver
Most diving accidents are caused by panicked reactions. These actions are not rational and decrease the chances of survival. Panic happens when a diver is in danger and loses control over his depth. Panicked responses only make matters worse and can lead to ineffective solutions. Eyewitness accounts of divers' deaths show that panic is a major factor.
Many diving fatalities are caused by issues with buoyancy. About 52% of the incidents were due to poor buoyancy and only 8% by excessive buoyancy. According to a DAN survey buoyancy issues were the leading cause of death. Wetsuits were also responsible for a large number of fatalities. DAN published a formula to calculate the ideal weight that a diver should use when diving.
Causes of death for scuba divers
Of the over 100 scuba diving fatalities each year, most were drowning. Other contributing factors include equipment failure, cardiac disease, environmental hazards and inappropriate responses. Although equipment failure isn't always the cause, it can still be a contributing factor to death. Over 80% are due to drowning. This obscures the real cause. Accidents can still happen, even though most divers keep a supply of oxygen on hand. Divers can drown for a variety reasons, including heart disease and unmanageable stresses.
In the case of an older diver, ischaemic heart disease may be the cause. While asthmatics are sometimes prohibited from diving they only account for two to three per cent of all scuba divers. However, asthmatics account for nearly nine percent of all diving deaths. Drop attacks and long QT syndrome have also been linked to drowning. These conditions can have devastating consequences regardless of what cause.
Common mistakes made by scuba divers
Recent studies of fatalities among scuba divers show that the majority of these incidents result from scuba divers not being prepared and planning ahead. These errors are called "precursor events." They may be minor or significant. Training and sound diving practices can reduce most fatalities. Even then, diving can still pose risks, including equipment failures, bad instructors, and dangerous water conditions. Dive companies must adhere to all federal and local laws.
Insufficient gas and entanglement were the leading causes of fatal accidents, while insufficient decompression time were the next leading causes. Divers can also die from lack of experience and training. Recent research showed that almost half of all fatalities resulted from improper decompression stops, and nearly all were due to buoyancy issues. Insufficient gas and entrapment were also common causes. Insufficient gas and inadequate training are the most common causes for fatal accidents. But there were instances when improper weights, procedures or other factors could have contributed to a diver's demise.