It is not uncommon for scuba divers to die. Some divers drown in spite of the many benefits that scuba diving offers. Find out the causes and symptoms that lead to scuba diver deaths so you can avoid them on your next trip. Here are some common mistakes scuba divers make that lead to their death. You can learn from others' mistakes and avoid them. This could save your life. Here are 5 common mistakes that scuba divers make.
Suffering from a death of a scuba diver
Asphyxia, which is the leading cause for death among scuba divers, is usually not due to any one factor. However, panic can lead to increased gas consumption. Around 40% of the deaths due to asphyxia are caused by inexperienced or separated divers. This group included those suffering from cardiac conditions or pulmonary barotrauma. However, loss consciousness is the most common symptom. Other symptoms like loss of coordination and cardiac conditions may also be involved.
Decompression sickness is usually manifested in the earliest stages of a diver's life. Most symptoms vanish once they reach the surface. To minimize swelling, you can use antibiotics and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs for barotrauma, which includes a fractured eardrum. Before the diver is allowed to return to the air, it is important that the injured part be fully restored.
Triggers leading to the death a scuba diver
Most diving accidents occur because of panicked reactions. These panicked reactions can be irrational and reduce the chance 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.
Problems with buoyancy are the leading cause of most diving fatalities. In fact, 52% of all incidents were caused by insufficient buoyancy and 8% due to excessive buoyancy. DAN surveys revealed that the most common causes of death were related to buoyancy. 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 death for scuba divers
Of the over 100 scuba diving fatalities each year, most were drowning. Equipment failure can also be a contributing factor. Equipment failure is often not the cause for death but it can be. In general, drowning is the cause of more than 80%. Accidents can still happen, even though most divers keep a supply of oxygen on hand. A variety of other factors may cause a diver to drown, including cardiac disease and unmanageable stress.
An older diver may have ischaemic heart disease. While asthmatics are sometimes prohibited from diving they only account for two to three per cent 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 serious consequences, regardless of their cause.
Divers often make mistakes
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 may be minor or significant. Proper training and good diving techniques can prevent most fatalities. Even then, diving can still pose risks, including equipment failures, bad instructors, and dangerous water conditions. Not only is there the danger of drowning but diving companies must also adhere to local and federal laws.
Insufficient gas and entanglement were the leading causes of fatal accidents, while insufficient decompression time were the next leading causes. 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 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.