In life, accidents happen – especially if you enjoy staying active. Little bumps and bruises, cuts, scrapes, and stings are to be expected and being prepared for the eventuality that these little accidents will happen to you or a dive buddy can make life a whole lot easier. While you’re not likely to be eaten by a shark or attacked by a giant squid, the likelihood that smaller dive accidents will happen is good. Here are some easy tips on basic first aid for divers. Don’t be caught unprepared!
Common Dive-Related Injuries and Illnesses
Although almost anything can happen while you’re diving, some things do happen more often than others:
Dehydration – It’s surprisingly easy for divers to become dehydrated, partly because the air in your cylinders contains no moisture whatsoever, and because your body has to work fairly hard to maintain homeostasis while you are diving.
Decompression Sickness – Also known as the bends, decompression sickness happens when bubbles form in the bloodstream and body tissues during ascent from depth. Although DCS is normally easy to prevent, it happens to a surprising number of divers. Though not normally fatal, DCS can cause death.
AGE – AGE is an acronym for Arterial Gas Embolism. This occurs when the lungs over-expand and large bubbles enter the bloodstream, leading to a stroke. AGE can be fatal.
Hypothermia – Hypothermia can develop even in fairly warm water. When the body is exposed to cool or cold water and its internal temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius, the result is hypothermia.
Ear Barotrauma – This problem occurs due to pressure changes and can cause serious injury. In some cases, divers with ear barotrauma suffer from subsequent hearing loss or complete deafness.
Bites and Stings – Bites and stings can range from minor to serious. Certain sea snakes, jellyfish, corals, and other creatures are capable of inflicting painful bites and stings – either as defensive mechanisms or simply due to accidental contact.
The Diver’s First Aid Kit
It’s vital that you assemble a first aid kit and keep it in your gear bag, particularly if you and a dive buddy happen to prefer diving on your own rather than enjoying organized charter trips. A basic first aid kit isn’t large, heavy, or difficult to assemble – and the items it typically contains don’t require any special knowledge to use. Here are several items to consider packing in your own emergency care kit.
Vinegar – Though humble, vinegar is wonderfully useful. Use it to neutralize jellyfish stings and many other painful poisonous bites.
Antibacterial Cream – Apply antibacterial cream to bites, stings, and coral scratches after cleansing.
Isopropyl Alcohol – Also known as rubbing alcohol, this home remedy is great for drying out the ears after diving, and it can help to prevent ear infections. Just use a few drops at a time.
Seasickness Pills – OTC seasickness remedies can be nice to have along in the event anyone is overwhelmed by motion sickness. Just keep in mind that medications that lead to drowsiness don’t mix with diving, so anyone who takes them may have to nap on deck rather than participate in the planned dive.
Reef-Safe Sunscreen – Apply reef-safe sunscreen as you get ready for your day out on the water, and apply it again according to the directions on the bottle. You’ll normally need to reapply sunscreen right after you come out of the water.
Bottled Water – Keep water with you at all times. Either supply your own stainless steel bottle or choose water bottled in non-BPA plastic, for your health.
Sports Drinks and Energy Bars – Snacks and lightly sweet drinks help you to keep your energy up and can help a stressed body recover after a minor injury. Be sure to replenish your supply on a regular basis so you always have fresh items rather than stale ones.
In addition to these items, be sure to pack the following essentials in your emergency care kit:
- Tape, gauze, and adhesive bandages in various sizes
- Cotton swabs and cotton pads
- Antiseptic spray such as Bactine
- OTC pain reliever such as aspirin, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Gloves
In the event you’d rather not buy all these items separately, you can find pre-made first aid kits. Find one with plenty of items included, take inventory, and add any necessary items that are missing.
Basic Emergency Treatments
No matter how fancy your first aid supplies are, you won’t be able to use them effectively if you aren’t familiar with common problems and appropriate treatments; here is some very basic information to help you get started.
Scratches and Cuts
Scratches and cuts should be cleansed with antiseptic solution. Put a bit of antibacterial cream on top of minor cuts and scratches, then cover with a bandage. If a cut is bleeding profusely, apply pressure with a layer of gauze. Keep adding more gauze and other absorbent items while applying pressure if necessary, and get the person to a qualified medical provider as quickly as possible. If you apply bandages, be sure they are not cutting off circulation.
Jellyfish Stings
Wash jellyfish stings with vinegar; if you don’t have any on hand, you can use fresh urine. This may sound disgusting, but urine is sterile when it leaves the body, and it will take away the sting. Do not use fresh water, particularly if tentacle remnants are clinging to the affected area; this will merely make matters worse. Use tweezers to remove any remaining tentacles, then wash with salt water and apply vinegar.
Dehydration
The best treatment for dehydration is rehydration. Start slowly, giving the victim small amounts of liquid; if he or she is severely dehydrated, giving too much liquid at once can cause vomiting and make the problem worse. Gradually increase the amount of liquid being provided and ensure the victim is comfortable.
Severe problems such as ear barotrauma, AGE, and decompression sickness call for professional diagnosis and treatment. It is useful for divers to learn more about the symptoms and treatments for these and other problems; we recommend taking a rescue diver course or other courses designed specifically to teach appropriate first aid measures. The more you know and the better practice you are in, the more effectively you will be able to deal with emergencies of all types.