The number of scuba diver deaths is staggering. 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 the most common mistakes that scuba divers make that can lead to their deaths. You can learn from others' mistakes and avoid them. This could save your life. Here are the top 5 mistakes scuba divers make.
The signs of death in scuba divers
Asphyxia, the leading cause of scuba diver death, is rarely the result of any one factor, though panic can trigger increased gas consumption. 40% of those who died from asphyxia were either inexperienced divers or had to be separated from their buddies. Among this group, cardiac conditions and pulmonary barotrauma were associated with drowning. The most common symptom is loss of consciousness, but other symptoms, such as loss coordination, could 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. To minimize swelling, barotrauma can be treated using antibiotics and other nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. If the injured body part has not yet been completely restored, nitrogen narcosis should be treated before the diver is re-introduced to air.
Triggers of a scuba diver's death
Most diving accidents are caused by 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 indicate that panic plays an important role in diving accident deaths.
The majority of diving fatalities are triggered by problems with buoyancy, with 52% of incidents being caused by inadequate buoyancy and 8% by excessive buoyancy. DAN found that buoyancy problems were the most common cause of death in diving fatalities. In addition to buoyancy problems, the use of wetsuits played a significant role in fatalities. DAN published a formula for the approximate weight a diver should wear when diving.
Causes of death for scuba divers
The majority of drownings that resulted in the deaths of scuba divers each year was among the over 100. Equipment failure can also be a contributing factor. Although equipment failure isn't always the cause, it can still be a contributing factor to death. Over 80% of drowning deaths are generally attributed to equipment failure, which can obscure the true cause. Although most scuba divers carry a supply of breathing gas on their person at all times, accidents can still occur. Divers can drown from a variety of reasons, including unmanageable stress and cardiac disease.
In the case of an older diver, ischaemic heart disease may be the cause. 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. Other heart disorders, including drop attacks and long QT Syndrome, have been linked with drowning. These conditions, regardless of the cause can have grave consequences.
Common mistakes of scuba divers
A recent study of scuba diver fatalities indicates that the vast majority of incidents occur because of a diver's failure to properly prepare and plan ahead. These errors are called "precursor events." They can be minor or major. Training and sound diving practices can reduce most fatalities. Even so, diving still has risks. These include equipment failure, unsafe instructors, and unsuitable water conditions. In addition to the risk of drowning, diving companies also must comply with federal and local laws.
Insufficient gas and entanglement are the most common causes of fatal accidents. Insufficient time for decompression was the next most serious. 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, 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.