Deaths of scuba divers are quite 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 the most common mistakes that scuba divers make that can lead to their deaths. Learn from the mistakes of others and avoid them yourself. You may even save a life. Here are the top 5 mistakes scuba divers make.
Signs that a scuba diver has died
Although panic can cause increased gas consumption, asphyxia is not the most common cause of death in scuba divers. Asphyxia was responsible for approximately 40% of all deaths. Among this group, cardiac conditions and pulmonary barotrauma were associated with drowning. Although loss of consciousness is the most common symptom, there may be other causes, such as loss of coordination or cardiac conditions.
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 reduce swelling, barotrauma injuries (including a broken eardrum) can be treated with antibiotics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Nitrogen narcosis is an infection that causes the body to become irritated and should be treated before the diver can be reintroduced.
Triggers of a scuba diver's death
Most diving accidents result from panicked reactions. These responses are irrational and lower 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 show that panic can play a significant role in the death of a diver.
A majority of diving fatalities can be attributed to problems with buoyancy. 52% are due to insufficient buoyancy while 8% are caused excessive buoyancy. DAN surveys revealed that the most common causes of death were related to buoyancy. 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 the death of a scuba diver
The majority of drownings that resulted in the deaths of scuba divers each year was among the over 100. Other than equipment failure, other factors that could contribute to death include environmental hazards, heart disease, and inadvertently responding. While equipment failure is rarely the cause of death, it can be an important factor. In general, over 80% of these deaths are attributed to drowning, which obscures the true cause. Even though most divers have a supply at all times of breathing gas, accidents do happen. A variety of other factors may cause a diver to drown, including cardiac disease and unmanageable stress.
Ischemic heart disease could be the reason for an older diver. 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. Drop attacks and long QT syndrome have also been linked to drowning. No matter what the cause, these conditions can lead to severe consequences.
Divers make common mistakes
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 mistakes are called "precursors events". They can be major or minor. Most fatalities can be prevented with proper training and sound diving practices. But even then, there are still many risks to diving, ranging from equipment failure to faulty dive instructors and unsafe water conditions. In addition to the risk of drowning, diving companies also must comply with federal and local laws.
Insufficient gas and entanglement were the leading causes of fatal accidents, while insufficient decompression time were the next leading causes. A diver's death can also be caused by insufficient training or experience. According to a recent study, nearly half of all fatalities are due to improper decompression stops or buoyancy problems. Insufficient gas and entrapment were also common causes. Insufficient gas and poor training are the main causes of fatal accidents. However, there have been cases where improper weights or procedures could have led to a diver's death.