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Alert Diver Article Every day, all over the world, divers go to work underwater. They may be commercial divers, scientific divers or divers at aquariums. Because these divers are working, they must have specific training. Much of the same training is strictly voluntary for recreational divers. While meeting these training requirements is considered to be simply part of the job, the administrative requirements ensure every diver has current training in CPR and first aid, bloodborne pathogens and the DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries course. These "musts" can be cumbersome. If a diver is current in everything except first aid, for example, he may not be able to get back in the water until he has completed that course. And that doesn't include the in-water training. Several aquarium operations with large numbers of divers contacted DAN and asked if we could assist them with this dilemma. They noted that they were using the existing DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider (DEMP) program and wondered if we could incorporate CPR and first aid into that program. They also wanted to continue offering the First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries and AEDs for Scuba Diving courses. The result of these discussions and DAN's efforts is a program designed specifically for people who dive as part of their job duties. It will not be available to the average recreational diver. Students for this course must have an affiliation with a dive operation such as a commercial diving company, scientific diving operation or aquarium. The program, scheduled for release at DEMA 2006 in Orlando, Fla., includes the three required elements of the DEMP course - Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries, First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries and AEDs for Scuba Diving. It also includes workplace CPR and first aid, based on guidelines provided by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with a segment on bloodborne pathogens. This new program includes most of the content and existing elements from the DAN courses, with supplemental information and video shot at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The video applies the diving information to the workplace. This new program meets American Heart Association Guidelines 2005. For more information about the course, call +1-919-684-2948 ext. 555 (c) DAN - Alert Diver November / December 2006 |
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