Although some scuba diving incidents are tragic, they can often be avoided. You can learn lessons from them, take preventive measures to prevent them, and get compensated if you are involved in one. Read on to learn more about preventing dive accidents and recovering from them. After diving for several years, you have probably heard stories of people who had to get help after dive accidents.
Lessons learned from scuba diving accidents
A DAN report recently found that environmental factors were a major cause of scuba diving injuries. These factors include rapid changes in visibility which could trap divers or take them out of air, malfunctioning regulators and problems with rebreather systems. Divers who are not physically fit or experienced also faced dangers due to changing currents and waves.
A diver must learn that they should never hold their breath underwater. Breathing helps calm nerves, focus, and connects the diver with his or her body. Regular practice of your breathing techniques can help you avoid common diving injuries. It's also important to learn how you can share air and retrieve your primary regulator. This will increase your chances to survive a dive.
Unskilled and incorrect equipment use are the two main causes of diving injuries. These problems typically involve improper use of the air and cylinder valves. Divers should either reconsider diving or stop doing it altogether if these issues occur.
Preventive measures
Although diving is quite safe, it's important to be prepared and follow the instruction. It is possible to avoid small problems becoming big problems that can lead to an accident. A good training program and equipment will help you avoid serious injuries or life-threatening emergencies.
Divers should inspect their air tanks for leakages before diving. An open valve can prevent air flow and cause a diving accident. When the valve stops, the diver should open it slowly. This will prevent the valve from overpressurizing, which can lead to fatalities. It can also help to avoid respiratory complications such a gas narcosis or anoxia.
It is important to take into account the environment you will be diving in. A diver's equipment may be pulled by turbid water. Strong underwater currents can also separate divers from the boat covers. They could end up stranded in water. In poor visibility, they may not be seen by the boat crew. Divers should always carry yellow flags in order to attract attention. To signal their presence to others on shore, divers can use an EPIRB (personal submersible emergency oxygen radio) or a vhf radio.
Compensation for accident victims
You may be eligible for compensation if you are injured in a diving accident. The amount of compensation that you can claim depends on the type of accident you were involved in and how severe the injuries were. For example, if you were a commercial diver, you might be eligible for compensation for lost wages. You should contact an experienced attorney to learn more about the compensation you can receive.
If you were injured on a dive boat, the captain of the vessel may be liable for the accident. You can sue the captain for drinking or negligence if they were at fault. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries sustained while diving if the boat is defective.