The number of scuba diver deaths is staggering. 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. These are common mistakes that scuba divers make and can result in their death. Learn from others' mistakes so you can avoid them. You may even save a life. These are the top five 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. 40% of those who died from asphyxia were either inexperienced divers or had to be separated from their buddies. This group included those suffering from cardiac conditions or pulmonary barotrauma. Although loss of consciousness is the most common symptom, there may be other causes, such as loss of coordination or cardiac conditions.
Decompression sickness is usually manifested in the earliest stages of a diver's life. Most symptoms vanish once they reach the surface. Barotrauma injuries, including a broken eardrum, can be treated with antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to minimize swelling. The injured body part should be completely healed before nitrogen narcosis can be administered.
Triggers to a Dive Diver's Death
Most diving accidents result from 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 from diving accidents reveal that panic is a key factor in a diver's drowning.
A majority of diving fatalities can be attributed to problems with buoyancy. 52% are due to insufficient buoyancy while 8% are caused excessive buoyancy. DAN found that buoyancy problems were the most common cause of death in diving fatalities. Wetsuits were also responsible for a large number of fatalities. DAN published a formula to calculate the ideal weight that a diver should use 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. Aside from equipment failure, other contributing factors may include cardiac disease, environmental hazards, and an inappropriate response. Equipment failure can sometimes be the cause of death. Over 80% of drowning deaths are generally attributed to equipment failure, which can obscure the true cause. Accidents do occur, even though most scuba divers always have enough breathing gas. Divers can also drown from unmanageable stress or cardiac disease.
In the case of an older diver, ischaemic heart disease may be the cause. Asthmatics are often contraindicated from diving, but in fact only make up two to three percent of all scuba divers. However, asthmatics make up nearly 9 percent of all deaths from diving. Other heart disorders, including drop attacks and long QT Syndrome, have been linked with drowning. These conditions can have devastating consequences regardless of what cause.
Divers make common mistakes
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 called "precursor events." These errors can be either minor or major. 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. 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. 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 and inadequate training were the most common causes of fatal accidents, but there were cases of improper weights and procedures that may have resulted in a diver's death.