Diving First Aid for Professional Divers

DAN Training and Education
Diving First Aid for Professional Divers

Introduction

The DAN Diving First Aid for Professional Divers course represents training specifically designed for divers who dive as part of their job duties. It is not appropriate or designed for recreational divers. Students for this course must have an affiliation with an aquarium, commercial diving company or scientific diving operation.

The program includes the three required elements of the DEMP course (Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries, AEDs for Scuba Diving and First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries), along with workplace CPR and first aid, based on guidelines provided by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration on what that organization believes should be included in a work-place CPR and first aid course.

Since first aid skills deteriorate with time, retraining in this program is required every two years following successful completion of the course – although some local protocols and regulations require more frequent retraining. In addition, divers are encouraged to practice these and other diving skills regularly. All skills performed in an emergency should be within the scope of your training and experience.

Course Overview

Objectives
The objective of first aid is to establish and/or maintain the life of an injured or ill person until assistance (generally, emergency medical services — EMS) arrives or becomes available at the scene.

It is equally important that the rescuer do no further harm to the injured person. Providing oxygen to an injured diver, for example, will not cause any harm as long as the scene is safe and the oxygen equipment is functioning properly. This means that you must understand the limitations of your skills and knowledge and not attempt any procedure beyond your ability and the scope of your training.

Recommended Minimum Hours of Training
Knowledge and skills development = 2 days

Certification Duration
This program comes with a two-year certification.

Skill Performance Objectives
Knowledge and Skill development topics in this program include:

Scene Safety Assessment
Initial Assessment
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Using an AED
Choking
Control of Bleeding
Bandaging/Splinting
Oxygen Equipment Identification
Using a DAN Demand Valve
Delivering Oxygen with a non-rebreather mask
Delivering oxygen as part of CPR using a DAN mask
Oxygen Equipment Assembly and Disassembly
Shock Management
Secondary Assessment
Management of wounds from hazardous marine life
Pressure Immobilization technique
Poisonings (discussion topic)
Burns (discussion topic)
Emergency Moves
Temperature Extremes (discussion topic)
Medical Emergencies (discussion topic)