Scuba diver deaths are incredibly common. 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 what you have learned from others and learn how to avoid them. You could even save someone's life. Here are the top 5 mistakes scuba divers make.
The signs of death in scuba divers
Although panic can cause increased gas consumption, asphyxia is not the most common cause of death in scuba divers. Around 40% of the deaths due to asphyxia are caused by inexperienced or separated divers. 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 most common symptoms of decompression illness in divers is a lack oxygen. But, these symptoms usually disappear once the patient has reached the surface. Barotrauma injuries, including a broken eardrum, can be treated with antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to minimize swelling. 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. His panicked response only makes the situation worse, and is ineffective. Eyewitness accounts indicate that panic plays an important role in diving accident deaths.
Most diving deaths are caused by poor buoyancy. 52% of fatalities were due to inadequate buoyancy, and 8% from excessive buoyancy. DAN surveys revealed that the most common causes of death were related to buoyancy. Not only did buoyancy issues play a major role in the deaths, but so did wetsuits. DAN has published a formula that calculates the weight of a diver when he or she dives.
Causes of the death of a scuba diver
Many of the over 100 scuba dive fatalities each and every year were drowning. Other than equipment failure, other factors that could contribute to death include environmental hazards, heart disease, and inadvertently responding. Equipment failure is not always the cause of death. However, it can play a significant role. The majority of these deaths are caused by drowning. Accidents do occur, even though most scuba divers always have enough breathing gas. Divers can drown from a variety of reasons, including unmanageable stress and 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. However, asthmatics account for nearly nine percent of all diving deaths. Other heart disorders, including drop attacks and long QT Syndrome, have been linked with drowning. Regardless of the cause, these conditions can have severe consequences.
Common mistakes made by scuba divers
A recent study on the causes of fatalities for scuba divers has revealed that the vast majority of such incidents can be attributed to poor planning and preparation. These errors are called "precursor events." They can be minor, or major. Proper training and good diving techniques can prevent most fatalities. Even then, diving can still pose risks, including equipment failures, bad instructors, and dangerous water conditions. Divers must adhere to federal and local laws.
Insufficient gas and embarrassment were the leading causes for fatal accidents. Insufficient decompression times were the next most important. Diving can be dangerous and even fatal if the diver has not had enough experience or 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 or inadequate training were the leading causes of fatal accidents. But, improper weights and procedures can also lead to death.