Diver deaths are very common. Despite the many benefits of scuba dive, there are still some drownings. 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. You can learn from others' mistakes and avoid them. You may even save a life. Here are 5 common mistakes that scuba divers make.
Death of a Scuba Diver
Although panic can cause increased gas consumption, asphyxia is not the most common cause of death in scuba divers. Around 40% of the deaths due to asphyxia are caused by inexperienced or separated divers. The most common causes of drowning were cardiac conditions and lung barotrauma. Although loss of consciousness is the most common symptom, there may be other causes, such as loss of coordination or cardiac conditions.
The first symptoms of decompression sickness for divers are usually a lack in oxygen. However, most symptoms disappear once the patient reaches the surface. To minimize swelling, barotrauma can be treated using antibiotics and other nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. The injured body part should be completely healed before nitrogen narcosis can be administered.
Triggers leading to the death a scuba diver
Most diving accidents result from panicked reactions. These responses are irrational and lower the chances of survival. Panic is when a diver loses control of his depth and finds himself in a potentially dangerous situation. 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.
Most diving deaths are caused by poor buoyancy. 52% of fatalities were due to inadequate buoyancy, and 8% from excessive buoyancy. DAN surveyed the top causes of deaths for diving accidents. Use of wetsuits also played a significant part in fatalities. DAN published a formula to calculate the ideal weight that a diver should use when diving.
Causes of a scuba diver's death
Of the over 100 scuba diving fatalities each year, most were drowning. Equipment failure is not the only factor. Other contributing factors could include heart disease, environmental hazards, or an inadvertent response. Equipment failure is often not the cause for death but it can be. In general, over 80% of these deaths are attributed to drowning, which obscures the true cause. Accidents can still happen, even though most divers keep a supply of oxygen on hand. Divers can drown for a variety reasons, including heart disease and unmanageable stresses.
If an older diver is experiencing difficulty breathing, it could be due to ischaemic cardiac disease. However, asthmatics are rarely allowed to dive. They make up just two to three percentage of all scuba divers. Nevertheless, nearly nine percent of diving deaths occur in asthmatics. Drop attacks and long QT syndrome have also been linked to drowning. These conditions can have devastating consequences regardless of what cause.
Common mistakes made in scuba diving
Recent research on scuba diver deaths has shown that most incidents are due to a diver's inability to plan and prepare properly. These errors are known as "precursor event". They can be minor, or major. 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. Not only is there the danger of drowning but diving companies must also adhere to local and federal laws.
Insufficient gas and embarrassment were the leading causes for fatal accidents. Insufficient decompression times were the next most important. An insufficient level of training and experience could also lead to a diver's untimely death. 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.