Diver deaths are very common. Despite the many benefits of scuba dive, there are still some drownings. 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 the time to learn from the mistakes made by others and make sure you don't make them. You could even save someone's life. Here are the top 5 mistakes 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. 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. The most common symptom is loss of consciousness, but other symptoms, such as loss coordination, could 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 minimize swelling, barotrauma can be treated using antibiotics and other nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. The injured body part should be completely healed before nitrogen narcosis can be administered.
Triggers of a scuba diver's death
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. His panicked response only makes the situation worse, and is ineffective. Eyewitness accounts of divers' deaths show that panic is a major factor.
A majority of diving fatalities can be attributed to problems with buoyancy. 52% are due to insufficient buoyancy while 8% are caused excessive buoyancy. In a DAN survey, buoyancy problems were the most frequent triggers of deaths. Use of wetsuits also played a significant part in fatalities. DAN published a formula indicating the maximum weight that a diver should be wearing when diving.
Causes of death in scuba divers
The majority of drownings that resulted in the deaths of scuba divers each year was among the over 100. Aside from equipment failure, other contributing factors may include cardiac disease, environmental hazards, and an inappropriate response. Equipment failure can sometimes be the cause of death. The majority of these deaths are caused by drowning. Although most scuba divers carry a supply of breathing gas on their person at all times, accidents can still occur. Divers can also drown from unmanageable stress or cardiac disease.
A case in point is an older diver with ischaemic cardiovascular disease. However, asthmatics are rarely allowed to dive. They make up just two to three percentage of all scuba divers. Nearly nine percent of deaths in diving are due to asthma. Drowsing has been linked to other heart conditions, such as long QT syndrome or drop attacks. These conditions can have serious consequences, regardless of their cause.
Common mistakes made in scuba diving
A recent study of scuba diver fatalities indicates that the vast majority of incidents occur because of a diver's failure to properly prepare and plan ahead. These errors are called "precursor events." These errors can be either minor or major. 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. Diving companies must also comply with all applicable federal and state laws.
Insufficient gas and embarrassment were the leading causes for fatal accidents. Insufficient decompression times were the next most important. An insufficient level of training and experience could also lead to a diver's untimely death. A recent study found that almost half the fatalities were caused by improper decompression and buoyancy issues. Also common were entrapment and inadequate gas. 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.