Dive Emergency Protocols

A diving accident victim could be any person who has been breathing air underwater regardless of depth. It is essential that emergency procedures are pre-planned and that medical treatment is initiated as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of each AAUS organizational member to develop procedures for diving emergencies including evacuation and medical treatment for each dive location.

General Procedures

Depending on the nature of the diving accident, stabilize the patient, administer as high a concentration of oxygen as possible, contact local Emergency Medical System (EMS) for transport to medical facility, contact diving accident coordinator, as appropriate. Explain the circumstances of the dive incident to the evacuation teams, medics and physicians. Do not assume that they understand why oxygen may be required for the diving accident victim or that recompression treatment may be necessary.

· Make appropriate contact with victim, or rescue as required.
· Establish , (C)irculation, (A)irway, (B)reathing as required.
· Administer oxygen at as high a concentration as possible.
· Call local Emergency Medical System (EMS) for transport to nearest medical treatment facility.
. Call DAN (919) 684 9111
· Notify Diving Safety Officer or his/her designee.
· Complete and submit Diving Injury/Incident Report to the DCB

Procedures at Monterey Peninsula dive locations including Hopkins

Planning for emergencies

Know the nearest phone location at each shore site (a cell phone is recommended if a public phone is not near the dive site). Make sure public phones work and that cell phones have charge and reception.
Have a VHF radio on board for boat diving, and make sure it works before leaving.
Have an oxygen system and first aid kit on site, and personnel trained to use them. Check kits prior to diving. At Hopkins, a kit should always be on the table inside the dive lockers. The Hopkins AED is located in the main office at the front of the Boatworks. Visiting divers are responsible for bringing their own emergency equipment.
Have a beach master or boat tender present whenever possible.

EMS activation

In case of a diving emergency: call 911. From HMS office phones, dial 9-911.
If on the water with a marine VHF radio, call the Coast Guard on Channel 16.
If possible, send someone to the Hopkins main gate to meet EMS and direct them to the appropriate location.

Local emergency protocol requires the diver to be evaluated at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP, 23625 Holman Highway) before referral to a recompression chamber. The nearest chamber is located at 600 Pine Ave. in Pacific Grove, but DO NOT transport divers there directly as chamber personnel are not present until CHOMP arranges for treatment of the patient.

If feasible note the condition of the diver and details of the events leading up to the accident, including dive profiles. Report any diving-related accident/injury to the DSO and the Hopkins administrator/station manager as soon as possible, within 24 hours of occurrence. Submit the Stanford University incident/accident reporting form Incident Report (eSU-17) – Stanford Environmental Health & Safety as well as the AAUS incident report found in Stanford's Diving Safety Manual.

Procedures at other dive locations

Follow local procedures as detailed in the diving accident management plan for evacuation and medical treatment established as part of the Scientific Diving Plan.

Shark Activity Dive Procedures

When there is evidence of shark activity at or near a dive site it is recommended that diving operations be cancelled for the day. Extreme circumstances may call for restriction of research diving activity in the area over several days. Notification will be made to divers by e-mail and posted in the Hopkins dive lockers.

When subsequent diving at the site and in adjacent areas is necessary, it is advisable to incorporate as many of the recommendations listed below as operationally possible:

Do not dive in areas with recent shark activity (sightings or attacks)
Utilize boats whenever possible rather than surface swimming.
All divers, boat operators and shore contacts should be made aware of the inherent hazards associated with operations during times of shark activity and be especially attentive to surroundings during the operations. Pay attention to marine mammal behavior. Avoid diving in poor visibility or near fishing activity.
All boat operations should have a person on the boat at all times that can render immediate aid (bring an injured diver into the boat and provide first aid) and should be able to operate all aspects of the vessel. Emergency procedures and diver recall strategies should be discussed prior to departure. Cell phone as well as VHF radio, O2 kit and first aid kit should be on board. Boats should be anchored well into the kelp bed - avoid anchoring in open water.
Surface and midwater swimming should be minimized. Know compass headings back to the anchor line and to shore. Make sure you have enough air to navigate underwater to your exit point. If the situation dictates a direct ascent to the surface, do not make a safety stop but ascend as slowly as you safely can with your buddy. Be prepared to enter the vessel as quickly as possible, ditching BC and weight belt if necessary.
Buddy teams should stay within touching distance at all times, especially on the surface.
As is always the case, divers need to assess the risk of each dive and make their own decision as to their ability to safely conduct the dive. Any diver may refuse to make a dive, even if their decision will lead to the cancellation of the day's activities.