The number of scuba diver deaths is staggering. Despite the numerous benefits of scuba diving, some divers end up in the water dead. Find out the causes and symptoms that lead to scuba diver deaths so you can avoid them on your next trip. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by scuba divers that can cause their death. Take the time to learn from the mistakes made by others and make sure you don't make them. You may even save a life. These are the 5 most common mistakes made by scuba divers.
Symptoms of a scuba diver's death
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. These deaths were mainly due to drowning, as well as cardiac conditions and pulmonary Barotrauma. Loss of consciousness is one of the most common symptoms, although other symptoms, including loss of coordination, may also be involved.
The earliest symptoms of decompression sickness in a diver are generally a lack of oxygen, but most of these symptoms go away once the patient reaches the surface. To reduce swelling, antibiotics can be used to treat barotrauma (including broken eardrums). The injured body part should be completely healed before nitrogen narcosis can be administered.
Triggers for a Scuba Diver's Death
Most diving accidents are caused by panicked reactions. These actions are not rational and decrease 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 from diving accidents reveal that panic is a key factor in a diver's drowning.
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. In a DAN survey, buoyancy problems were the most frequent triggers of deaths. Use of wetsuits also played a significant part in fatalities. DAN has published a formula that calculates the weight of a diver when he or she dives.
Causes for the death of a diver
Of the over 100 scuba diving fatalities each year, most were drowning. Other contributing factors include equipment failure, cardiac disease, environmental hazards and inappropriate responses. Equipment failure can sometimes be the cause of death. Over 80% are due to drowning. This obscures the real cause. Even though most divers have a supply at all times of breathing gas, accidents do happen. Divers can also drown from unmanageable stress or cardiac disease.
A case in point is an older diver with ischaemic cardiovascular disease. 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. Drowsing has been linked to other heart conditions, such as long QT syndrome or drop attacks. Regardless of the cause, these conditions can have severe consequences.
Common mistakes made by scuba divers
A recent study on the causes of fatalities for scuba divers has revealed that the vast majority of such incidents can be attributed to poor planning and preparation. These are known as "precursor incidents." They can be major or minor. 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. Divers must adhere to federal and local laws.
Fatal accidents are often caused by insufficient gas or entanglement. Insufficient decompression time and entanglement were next. An insufficient level of training and experience could also lead to a diver's untimely death. A recent study revealed that nearly half of fatalities occurred due to incorrect decompression stops and buoyancy problems. Insufficient gas and entrapment were also common causes. Insufficient gas and inadequate training are the most common causes for fatal accidents. But there were instances when improper weights, procedures or other factors could have contributed to a diver's demise.