Unfortunately, diving accidents can happen but they can be prevented. There are ways to learn from them, prevent them from happening again, and be compensated for any injuries. Find out how to prevent accidents from happening and how you can recover. After many years of diving, you've probably heard about people who needed help following an accident.
Lessons learned from scuba diving accidents
A DAN report recently found that environmental factors were a major cause of scuba diving injuries. Rapid changes in visibility could trap divers, or deprive them from air. Problems with regulators and malfunctioning rebreather units were also factors. Divers without the right experience or fitness can also be exposed to dangers from shifting currents.
Divers should be taught to breathe underwater. Breathing, no matter how simple it may sound, helps diver calm nerves, concentrate and connect to their bodies. Regular practice of your breathing techniques can help you avoid common diving injuries. Additionally, you should learn how to rescue your primary regulator and share air. You will have a better chance of making it through a dive.
Poor skills and inadequacy of equipment are two of the leading causes of diving accidents. These issues are usually caused by improper use of air and cylinder valves. This is a sign that a diver should consider resuming diving or abandoning the dive.
Preventive steps
Scuba diving can be a very safe sport. However, it is important that you practice good preparation and follow all the instructions. Small problems can be prevented from turning into major issues and causing an accident. Training and the proper equipment will make sure you do not suffer from a decompression injury, or a life-threatening emergency.
Before diving, divers must check the valve in their air tanks. Divers should check the valve on their air tanks before diving. A partially closed valve can stop air flow to regulators, which could cause an accident. When the valve stops, the diver should open it slowly. This will prevent overpressure from causing death. This procedure can also prevent respiratory complications such gas narcosis and anoxia.
It is also important to consider the environment in which you will dive. A diver's equipment may be pulled by turbid water. Strong underwater currents may also be able to separate a diver and the boat cover. This could result in them being stranded on the water. If the visibility is poor, the boat crew may fail to notice them. Yellow flags are also a good idea for divers to use to draw attention to them. To signal their presence to others on shore, divers can use an EPIRB (personal submersible emergency oxygen radio) or a vhf radio.
Compensation for accident victims
When you have been injured in a dive accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The type of accident that occurred and the extent of your injuries will determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to. For example, if you were a commercial diver, you might be eligible for compensation for lost wages. To learn more about what compensation you may be eligible for, consult an experienced attorney.
The captain of the boat might be liable if you were hurt in a diving boat accident. If the captain was drinking alcohol or negligent, you may be able to sue him or her. If the boat is defective, you might also be entitled for compensation if your dive accident results in you being hurt.