Diver deaths are very common. Despite the numerous benefits of scuba diving, some divers end up in the water dead. To prevent this from happening again, you should be familiar with the signs and causes of fatalities in scuba diving. These are common mistakes that scuba divers make and can result in their death. Learn from the mistakes of others and avoid them yourself. You may even save a life. Here are five of the most common mistakes that divers make.
Signs that a scuba diver has died
Asphyxia, the leading cause of scuba diver death, is rarely the result of any one factor, though panic can trigger increased gas consumption. Asphyxia was responsible for approximately 40% of all deaths. 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 first signs of decompression syndrome in a diver include a lack of oxygen. However, most of these symptoms disappear once the patient is on the surface. Barotrauma injuries, including a broken eardrum, can be treated with antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to minimize swelling. Nitrogen narcosis is an infection that causes the body to become irritated and should be treated before the diver can be reintroduced.
Triggers for a Scuba Diver's Death
Panicked reactions are responsible for most diving accidents. These responses are irrational and lower the chances of survival. Panic occurs when divers are faced with a difficult situation and lose control of their depth. Panicked reactions only make the situation worse and are ineffective. Eyewitness accounts of divers' deaths show that panic is a major factor.
Most diving deaths are caused by poor buoyancy. 52% of fatalities were due to inadequate buoyancy, and 8% from excessive buoyancy. According to a DAN survey buoyancy issues were the leading cause of death. Wetsuits were also responsible for a large number of fatalities. DAN published a formula indicating the maximum weight that a diver should be wearing when diving.
Causes of death for scuba divers
Most of the more than 100 drowning deaths in scuba diving each year were due to drowning. Equipment failure is not the only factor. Other contributing factors could include heart disease, environmental hazards, or an inadvertent response. Equipment failure can sometimes be the cause of death. Over 80% are due to drowning. This obscures the real cause. Accidents can still happen, even though most divers keep a supply of oxygen on hand. Divers can drown from a variety of reasons, including unmanageable stress and cardiac disease.
An older diver may have ischaemic heart disease. However, asthmatics are rarely allowed to dive. They make up just two to three percentage of all scuba divers. Asthmatics account for almost nine percent in all diving deaths. Drowsing has been linked to other heart conditions, such as long QT syndrome or drop attacks. No matter what the cause, these conditions can lead to severe consequences.
Common mistakes made in scuba diving
A study on fatalities in scuba diving shows that most of them are caused by a diver's failures to prepare for and plan ahead. These mistakes are known as "precursor events." They can be minor, or major. With proper training and sound diving practice, most fatalities can be avoided. 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.
Fatal accidents are often caused by insufficient gas or entanglement. Insufficient decompression time and entanglement were next. Diving can be dangerous and even fatal if the diver has not had enough experience or training. A recent study revealed that nearly half of fatalities occurred due to incorrect decompression stops and buoyancy problems. Insufficient gas or entrapment are also common causes. Insufficient gas, inadequate training and insufficient gas were the main causes of fatal accidents. However there were also cases when improper weights and procedures could have caused a diver to die.