You are cordially invited to a Birthday Celebration!!!
Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ
Date: Every day. Traditionally, December 25 but He's always around, so the date is flexible...
Time: Whenever you're ready. (Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)
Place: In your heart.... He'll meet you there. (You'll hear Him knock.)
Attire: Come as you are... grubbies are okay. He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.
Tickets: Admission is free. He's already paid for everyone... (He says you wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway... it cost Him everything He had. But you do need to accept the ticket!!
Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a far-out drink He calls "Living Water," followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!
Gift Suggestions: ; Your life. He's one of those people who already has everything else. (He's very generous in return though. Just wait until you see what He has for you!)
Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much more! (All "G" rated, so bring your family and friends.)
R.S.V.P. Very Important!
He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table. Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."
Party being given by His Kids (that's us!!)!
Hope to see you there! For those of you whom I will see at the party, share this with someone today!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Ice Diving with Oregon Public Broadcasting
Omni Divers Ice Diving - January 2012
OREGON - DIVING LOCATIONS:
Lake of the Woods, Klamath Falls, OR
DATES: January 27 - 29, 2012
COST: Class - $295 - Text - $35 - Certification fees - $25
PREREQUISITE: Advanced Open Water Certification or evidence of deep, navigation, and night dives
We have started the preparations for the ice dives. We will stay in motel rooms in Klamath Falls, Oregon. There is also rooms at Lake of the Woods Resort. Check their webpage http://www.lakeofthewoodsresort.com/.
OREGON - DIVING LOCATIONS:
Lake of the Woods, Klamath Falls, OR
DATES: January 27 - 29, 2012
COST: Class - $295 - Text - $35 - Certification fees - $25
PREREQUISITE: Advanced Open Water Certification or evidence of deep, navigation, and night dives
More Specific Detailed Information on January Ice Diving 2012!
We have started the preparations for the ice dives. We will stay in motel rooms in Klamath Falls, Oregon. There is also rooms at Lake of the Woods Resort. Check their webpage http://www.lakeofthewoodsresort.com/.
We will do a presentation in Klamath Falls on Friday evening at 6 pm at the new Omni Divers location. In addition, Oregon Public Broadcasting crew will be onsite to collect topside and underwater video footage of our activities. Please stop by if you are in the neighborhood.
We will get organized earlier than Friday night in order to see what everybody is going to bring as their share of shovels, tents, tarps, ropes, ice harnesses, cross cut saw, gas for the snow blower, the snow blower, blower oil, carabiners, dry clothing bags, several extra pairs of gloves, waterproof boots, dry socks, etc.
We need to provide special safety measures overnight so no one will fall in the hole, i.e. flagging, poles, etc.
Ice Diving March 2011: We have now established a date and will start in earnest for the preparations for the March 2011's ice dives. We will soon make room reservations in McCall, Idaho.
We will do a presentation in McCall on Friday evening at 6 pm at the new McCall Fire Station, McCall Idaho.
We still will need to get organized earlier than Friday night in order to see what everybody is going to bring as their share of shovels, tents, tarps, ropes, ice harnesses, cross cut saw, gas for the snow blower, the snow blower, blower oil, carabiners, dry clothing bags, several extra pairs of gloves, waterproof boots, dry socks, etc. We will need to think of special safety measures overnight so no one falls in the hole, i.e. flagging, poles, etc.
We will get organized earlier than Friday night in order to see what everybody is going to bring as their share of shovels, tents, tarps, ropes, ice harnesses, cross cut saw, gas for the snow blower, the snow blower, blower oil, carabiners, dry clothing bags, several extra pairs of gloves, waterproof boots, dry socks, etc.
We need to provide special safety measures overnight so no one will fall in the hole, i.e. flagging, poles, etc.
Ice Diving March 2011: We have now established a date and will start in earnest for the preparations for the March 2011's ice dives. We will soon make room reservations in McCall, Idaho.
We will do a presentation in McCall on Friday evening at 6 pm at the new McCall Fire Station, McCall Idaho.
We still will need to get organized earlier than Friday night in order to see what everybody is going to bring as their share of shovels, tents, tarps, ropes, ice harnesses, cross cut saw, gas for the snow blower, the snow blower, blower oil, carabiners, dry clothing bags, several extra pairs of gloves, waterproof boots, dry socks, etc. We will need to think of special safety measures overnight so no one falls in the hole, i.e. flagging, poles, etc.
About the only gear we don't have for ice diving is the tent, we can try to get the same tent we used last year from one of the ice divers or we can fabricate one from blue tarps and pvc pipe.
We have been getting interest statements and now we are getting deposits to verify how much really serious interest we have in ice diving in February in Klamath Falls in Oregon and in March 2011 in Idaho.
Please email omnidive@omnidivers.com if you are interested or want additional information.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Water Response Training Council (WRTC) newly formed on November 4, 2011
Press Release:
November 12, 2011
Seven (7) US-based public safety diving training agencies came together Friday, November 4, 2011, in a round-table meeting/discussion at the DEMA Show venue in Orlando, Florida. The outcome of this initial meeting was the formation of the Water Response Training Council (WRTC).
The council's charter is to improve the safety of public safety divers and consumers through development of minimum training standards.
The following agencies participated and are considered founding members: Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD), Life Guard Systems (LGS), Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), US Water Rescue, Public Safety Diving Association (PSDA), and Dive Rescue International (DRI).
The WRTC's initial tasks will be working on by-laws and the minimum training standards.
The next meeting of the Water Response Training Council will take place early next year.
November 12, 2011
Seven (7) US-based public safety diving training agencies came together Friday, November 4, 2011, in a round-table meeting/discussion at the DEMA Show venue in Orlando, Florida. The outcome of this initial meeting was the formation of the Water Response Training Council (WRTC).
The council's charter is to improve the safety of public safety divers and consumers through development of minimum training standards.
The following agencies participated and are considered founding members: Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD), Life Guard Systems (LGS), Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), US Water Rescue, Public Safety Diving Association (PSDA), and Dive Rescue International (DRI).
The WRTC's initial tasks will be working on by-laws and the minimum training standards.
The next meeting of the Water Response Training Council will take place early next year.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
OSHA Standards and PSD Teams: Are We Really Exempt?
OSHA Standards and PSD Teams: Are We Really Exempt? By Michael S. Glenn
Public Safety diving is an amalgam of several different and varying forms of diving which joins the best of recreational courses, scientific principles and commercial standards. However, one question which is often addressed is this: do public safety divers fall under the standards and guidelines as laid out under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)? Simply stated, YES public safety and emergency response divers are governed under several different guidelines as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). However, some provisions must be in place first.
OSHA is the governing body for “workplace safety”. Workplace safety is outlined as a relationship between employee and employer. As such, public safety and emergency dive units working directly under the control of an employer would be considered as being under OSHA’s control while dive team units and members from a private entity where there is no employee or employer relationship would not be initially considered under the control of OSHA. In addition, some states are not considered to be governed under OSHA jurisdictions as they have opted to create their own work place safety guidelines. These states are called State Plan States. State Plan States develop and enforce their own set of workplace safety guidelines. However, these standards must meet the same minimum standards that OSHA addresses or exceed them in order to be approved and institutionalized.
Public safety diving does not conform to one set platform for diving. As such, it is not traditionally governed under several standards in existence. In addition, the typical standard most divers reference when discussing OSHA adherence seems to be OSHA 29 CFR 1910.400 or Subpart T “Commercial Diving Standards”. While most readily recognize that within the first three paragraphs the standard simply states that this standard does not apply to public safety divers, this statement is somewhat misleading. Public safety divers operating in certain aspects may not be held to OSHA standards in whole. However, when conducting dives in waters where the current flow is over one knot (1kt. / 1.15mph) they are held to being tethered, as outlined in this standard. Further, when conducting salvage operations, where lift bags or lifting equipment is deployed, public safety divers are no longer working in a realm of public safety diving but in commercial salvage and again are held to the commercial standards as outlined in the OSHA guidelines.
While most discuss the commercial diving standards, OSHA outlines several other standards that everyone, including land based members, must adhere to. For example, OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.106, Working over or near water: Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment, clearly outlines that everyone working from boat or land in close proximity of the water must wear a life vest. This single standard addresses anyone standing or working near the water’s edge from tenders, surface support, decontamination teams, medical assistance, etc.
In 29 CFR 1910, Respiratory Protection: Personal Protective Equipment, the standard states: “In the control of those occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors, the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used pursuant to this section.” (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 (a) (1)) Further, the standard outlines that the respirator must be fit tested to the wearer. Several agencies, across the nation have interpreted that this standard applies to the use of their full face masks utilized in potentially contaminated water environments.
Another guideline laid out under OSHA that emergency response divers fall under includes 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne Pathogens Standard; this guideline sets out the minimum requirements for protection, exposure mitigation and reporting practices for anyone who can potentially come in contact with blood or biological pathogenic materials, as a diver will when performing human remains recoveries.
OSHA standards cover a vast majority of topics and details and one is hard pressed to find some aspect of the diving profession that is not covered under at least one guideline. However, what is important to remember is that OSHA’s guidelines are not enacted to harm or hamper an organization but to help protect them and their employees from unnecessary risk, injury or harm. This holds true for public safety dive teams. Regardless of your state’s position, as an OSHA controlled state or a State Plan State with its own occupational safety organization, every diver must meet some form of OSHA compliance in some form of its operations. In addition, civilian and non-affiliated public safety teams may find themselves operating under the control of a government or public body and would again find themselves needing to comply. It is the divers, dive team leaders and governing agency’s responsibility and duty to know their respective state’s position and guidelines. Knowing the guidelines and implementing their practice routinely will assist in the overall safety and professionalism of the team.
For further information on OSHA guidelines, please contact your local states department of occupational safety and health, or go to: http://www.osha.gov/. For research into specific codes, guidelines or topics go to: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=STANDARDS&p_toc_level=1&p_keyvalue=1910
About the author
Michael began his law enforcement career in July, 1990 and has served approximately 20 years as a law enforcement officer with several law enforcement agencies in North Carolina. Michael has enjoyed working briefly as a patrol officer but has devoted most of his career to criminal investigations and crime scene investigations.
Michael assumed the role of criminal investigator and crime scene investigator while employed with the Tabor City Police Department and maintained that position until 1998. He left Tabor City Police Department as a Detective Lieutenant and Assistant Chief of Police to join the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. Michael was employed by Columbus County as a criminal investigator and crime scene investigator. Michael was initially assigned as the domestic violence investigator and later transferred to general crimes, fraud and cyber crimes. In addition, Michael was one of two detectives working on administrative investigations. Michael designed and established the department’s forensics processing lab and built the department’s working CSI program. In addition, Michael was instrumental in establishing the sheriff’s office underwater crime scene unit and acted as the dive team supervisor throughout his employment with the department. While employed with the sheriff’s office, Michael was instrumental in aiding in the building and equipping of the department’s first evidence processing facility and in establishing the basic protocols for evidence processing and submission.
Michael joined the North Carolina Justice Academy staff in February of 2007. In addition to his Academy duties, he also serves as a reserve police officer within Columbus County. Michael’s primary areas of concentration are in forensic technology courses including: basic and advanced crime scene investigation, fingerprint classification and comparison, chemical development of latent evidence, implementation strategies for forensic light source technologies deployment and incident reconstruction. Michael also serves as an instructor in underwater crime scene investigation and public safety diving. Michael is a certified scuba instructor and has authored several unique specialty programs in the field for public safety divers. In addition, Michael has been an invitational member on the US Navy’s Contaminated Water Diving Technical Working Group, as well as having published articles in H2Ops magazine and Law Enforcement Technologies on diving topics. Currently Michael has 3 training manuals in print and one on-line diving course for testifying in court for public safety divers.
Michael has been awarded his Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Training and Standards Division, as well as, completed the North Carolina Justice Academy’s Public Safety Diver’s Certificate Program.
To learn more how ERDI can benefit you and your Team please visit http://www.tdisdi.com/index.php?did=2&site=4
Public Safety diving is an amalgam of several different and varying forms of diving which joins the best of recreational courses, scientific principles and commercial standards. However, one question which is often addressed is this: do public safety divers fall under the standards and guidelines as laid out under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)? Simply stated, YES public safety and emergency response divers are governed under several different guidelines as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). However, some provisions must be in place first.
OSHA is the governing body for “workplace safety”. Workplace safety is outlined as a relationship between employee and employer. As such, public safety and emergency dive units working directly under the control of an employer would be considered as being under OSHA’s control while dive team units and members from a private entity where there is no employee or employer relationship would not be initially considered under the control of OSHA. In addition, some states are not considered to be governed under OSHA jurisdictions as they have opted to create their own work place safety guidelines. These states are called State Plan States. State Plan States develop and enforce their own set of workplace safety guidelines. However, these standards must meet the same minimum standards that OSHA addresses or exceed them in order to be approved and institutionalized.
Public safety diving does not conform to one set platform for diving. As such, it is not traditionally governed under several standards in existence. In addition, the typical standard most divers reference when discussing OSHA adherence seems to be OSHA 29 CFR 1910.400 or Subpart T “Commercial Diving Standards”. While most readily recognize that within the first three paragraphs the standard simply states that this standard does not apply to public safety divers, this statement is somewhat misleading. Public safety divers operating in certain aspects may not be held to OSHA standards in whole. However, when conducting dives in waters where the current flow is over one knot (1kt. / 1.15mph) they are held to being tethered, as outlined in this standard. Further, when conducting salvage operations, where lift bags or lifting equipment is deployed, public safety divers are no longer working in a realm of public safety diving but in commercial salvage and again are held to the commercial standards as outlined in the OSHA guidelines.
While most discuss the commercial diving standards, OSHA outlines several other standards that everyone, including land based members, must adhere to. For example, OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.106, Working over or near water: Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment, clearly outlines that everyone working from boat or land in close proximity of the water must wear a life vest. This single standard addresses anyone standing or working near the water’s edge from tenders, surface support, decontamination teams, medical assistance, etc.
In 29 CFR 1910, Respiratory Protection: Personal Protective Equipment, the standard states: “In the control of those occupational diseases caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors, the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination. This shall be accomplished as far as feasible by accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, and substitution of less toxic materials). When effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while they are being instituted, appropriate respirators shall be used pursuant to this section.” (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 (a) (1)) Further, the standard outlines that the respirator must be fit tested to the wearer. Several agencies, across the nation have interpreted that this standard applies to the use of their full face masks utilized in potentially contaminated water environments.
Another guideline laid out under OSHA that emergency response divers fall under includes 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne Pathogens Standard; this guideline sets out the minimum requirements for protection, exposure mitigation and reporting practices for anyone who can potentially come in contact with blood or biological pathogenic materials, as a diver will when performing human remains recoveries.
OSHA standards cover a vast majority of topics and details and one is hard pressed to find some aspect of the diving profession that is not covered under at least one guideline. However, what is important to remember is that OSHA’s guidelines are not enacted to harm or hamper an organization but to help protect them and their employees from unnecessary risk, injury or harm. This holds true for public safety dive teams. Regardless of your state’s position, as an OSHA controlled state or a State Plan State with its own occupational safety organization, every diver must meet some form of OSHA compliance in some form of its operations. In addition, civilian and non-affiliated public safety teams may find themselves operating under the control of a government or public body and would again find themselves needing to comply. It is the divers, dive team leaders and governing agency’s responsibility and duty to know their respective state’s position and guidelines. Knowing the guidelines and implementing their practice routinely will assist in the overall safety and professionalism of the team.
For further information on OSHA guidelines, please contact your local states department of occupational safety and health, or go to: http://www.osha.gov/. For research into specific codes, guidelines or topics go to: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=STANDARDS&p_toc_level=1&p_keyvalue=1910
About the author
Michael began his law enforcement career in July, 1990 and has served approximately 20 years as a law enforcement officer with several law enforcement agencies in North Carolina. Michael has enjoyed working briefly as a patrol officer but has devoted most of his career to criminal investigations and crime scene investigations.
Michael assumed the role of criminal investigator and crime scene investigator while employed with the Tabor City Police Department and maintained that position until 1998. He left Tabor City Police Department as a Detective Lieutenant and Assistant Chief of Police to join the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. Michael was employed by Columbus County as a criminal investigator and crime scene investigator. Michael was initially assigned as the domestic violence investigator and later transferred to general crimes, fraud and cyber crimes. In addition, Michael was one of two detectives working on administrative investigations. Michael designed and established the department’s forensics processing lab and built the department’s working CSI program. In addition, Michael was instrumental in establishing the sheriff’s office underwater crime scene unit and acted as the dive team supervisor throughout his employment with the department. While employed with the sheriff’s office, Michael was instrumental in aiding in the building and equipping of the department’s first evidence processing facility and in establishing the basic protocols for evidence processing and submission.
Michael joined the North Carolina Justice Academy staff in February of 2007. In addition to his Academy duties, he also serves as a reserve police officer within Columbus County. Michael’s primary areas of concentration are in forensic technology courses including: basic and advanced crime scene investigation, fingerprint classification and comparison, chemical development of latent evidence, implementation strategies for forensic light source technologies deployment and incident reconstruction. Michael also serves as an instructor in underwater crime scene investigation and public safety diving. Michael is a certified scuba instructor and has authored several unique specialty programs in the field for public safety divers. In addition, Michael has been an invitational member on the US Navy’s Contaminated Water Diving Technical Working Group, as well as having published articles in H2Ops magazine and Law Enforcement Technologies on diving topics. Currently Michael has 3 training manuals in print and one on-line diving course for testifying in court for public safety divers.
Michael has been awarded his Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Training and Standards Division, as well as, completed the North Carolina Justice Academy’s Public Safety Diver’s Certificate Program.
To learn more how ERDI can benefit you and your Team please visit http://www.tdisdi.com/index.php?did=2&site=4
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
ERDI PSD Tips and Cautions
Tips and cautions for when you find yourself working / diving in an overhead environment!
The email was simple enough: “Dear ERDI, our Public Safety Dive team has members who received their training from several different training agencies, not just ERDI, and as team leader, my job is to standardize training and to develop SOP/SOGs for the tasks we are called on to do in our community.”
So far, so good, and the fix is a simple one. It is common for a PSD Team Leader to be faced with this sort of situation, and the instructors and instructor-trainers at ERDI have helped plenty of dive teams on both accounts in the past. They have the experience and resources to share with team leaders.
The documents that earn the biggest thanks are the ones outlining how to approach dives in “difficult” environments. Defining these procedures is particularly important in a situation where divers have received PSD instruction through different channels, and more specifically when PSD team members have only sport diver training.
The immediate challenge – and huge red flag – was contained in the message’s second part which explained that during a recent “town-hall-type meeting” among the team there was disagreement in what constitutes an Overhead Environment and how to dive one.
“We did not find much common ground on this topic, not even what special regard an overhead environment demands.”
Once again, this is a common problem when team divers have very diverse experience and opinions informed by different training standards.
The first step in getting situations like this sorted is to define definitively an overhead environment.
In the ERDI manual, an overhead is defined as any environment from which there is no clear and direct access to the surface and fresh air. A public safety diver can be faced with many types of overhead, and these include: inside pipes and sewers, under piers and docks, inside submerged vehicles, in storage vessels, working in sunken buildings, inside and beneath ship’s hulls, working in tangled debris such as fallen trees and tree limbs, in mine shafts, in caverns and caves. ALL of these require special training, special equipment, and special techniques.
Let’s look briefly at a list of the major hazards that a diver may face when working in an overhead environment.
Entanglement: This is a real danger in many of the types of overhead environments that a PSD may be called on to enter. This danger can be compounded by restricted space, which means help from a support diver would be difficult and/or slow to arrive.
Entrapment: Submerged vehicles and storage vessels are notorious for trapping divers. A misplaced hand, fin or a bump against a “wall” dislodges a piece of wood or metal and starts a “landslide” of debris falling on the diver.
Zero visibility: PSD are used to working in poor visibility, but many overhead environments seem to collect silt and mud which virtually guarantees bad or zero visibility within seconds of entry.
Poor or Zero ambient light: Divers have to bring their own illumination.
Disorientation: Even the “simplest” overhead environments can become a confusing mess to an unprepared diver when visibility disappears and debris has been dislodged.
Depth: Narcosis is influenced by many things and the phrase “deep dive” takes on a whole new meaning and shallower lineal depth for a PSD under stress.
Gas Volume: All environments demand very conservative management procedures, but overheads require more detailed gas management plans because a “simple in and out” can easily become a long and drawn out operation.
The silver bullet solution for each of the hazards listed above boil down to four short words: “Training, equipment, practice, procedures.” ERDI has specialized programs that will prepare a PSD for the rigors they will find when asked to work in an overhead environment. These programs drill divers in the tricks/strategies that make working in an overhead possible. They will be coached on the specialized equipment they must carry, which includes lights (primary and backups), cutting devices (several, and carried in easy-to-reach locations on harness, body and pockets), redundant gas source (even on surface supplied), and a harness and line.
Most of all, this sort of training will coach PSD teams in all aspects of risk management that will help to keep them safe and give them the highest chance of success.
Chances are that your PSD Team has been or will soon have an overhead environment mission to complete. Please consider contacting your local ERDI PSD professional for help making sure the job runs as smoothly as possible and ALL your team members are protected by the right information and training.
To find a facility to assist you and or your Team, please visit:
www.sdi-onlinetraining.com/divers/index_facilities_courses.php
For additional information contact ERDI at:
Please email omnidive@gmail.com if you are interested or want additional information.
International Training
18 Elm St
Topsham, ME 04086
USA P: 1-888-778-9073 P: 1-207-729-4201
F: 1-207-729-4453 E: worldhq@tdisdi.com
The email was simple enough: “Dear ERDI, our Public Safety Dive team has members who received their training from several different training agencies, not just ERDI, and as team leader, my job is to standardize training and to develop SOP/SOGs for the tasks we are called on to do in our community.”
So far, so good, and the fix is a simple one. It is common for a PSD Team Leader to be faced with this sort of situation, and the instructors and instructor-trainers at ERDI have helped plenty of dive teams on both accounts in the past. They have the experience and resources to share with team leaders.
The documents that earn the biggest thanks are the ones outlining how to approach dives in “difficult” environments. Defining these procedures is particularly important in a situation where divers have received PSD instruction through different channels, and more specifically when PSD team members have only sport diver training.
The immediate challenge – and huge red flag – was contained in the message’s second part which explained that during a recent “town-hall-type meeting” among the team there was disagreement in what constitutes an Overhead Environment and how to dive one.
“We did not find much common ground on this topic, not even what special regard an overhead environment demands.”
Once again, this is a common problem when team divers have very diverse experience and opinions informed by different training standards.
The first step in getting situations like this sorted is to define definitively an overhead environment.
In the ERDI manual, an overhead is defined as any environment from which there is no clear and direct access to the surface and fresh air. A public safety diver can be faced with many types of overhead, and these include: inside pipes and sewers, under piers and docks, inside submerged vehicles, in storage vessels, working in sunken buildings, inside and beneath ship’s hulls, working in tangled debris such as fallen trees and tree limbs, in mine shafts, in caverns and caves. ALL of these require special training, special equipment, and special techniques.
Let’s look briefly at a list of the major hazards that a diver may face when working in an overhead environment.
Entanglement: This is a real danger in many of the types of overhead environments that a PSD may be called on to enter. This danger can be compounded by restricted space, which means help from a support diver would be difficult and/or slow to arrive.
Entrapment: Submerged vehicles and storage vessels are notorious for trapping divers. A misplaced hand, fin or a bump against a “wall” dislodges a piece of wood or metal and starts a “landslide” of debris falling on the diver.
Zero visibility: PSD are used to working in poor visibility, but many overhead environments seem to collect silt and mud which virtually guarantees bad or zero visibility within seconds of entry.
Poor or Zero ambient light: Divers have to bring their own illumination.
Disorientation: Even the “simplest” overhead environments can become a confusing mess to an unprepared diver when visibility disappears and debris has been dislodged.
Depth: Narcosis is influenced by many things and the phrase “deep dive” takes on a whole new meaning and shallower lineal depth for a PSD under stress.
Gas Volume: All environments demand very conservative management procedures, but overheads require more detailed gas management plans because a “simple in and out” can easily become a long and drawn out operation.
The silver bullet solution for each of the hazards listed above boil down to four short words: “Training, equipment, practice, procedures.” ERDI has specialized programs that will prepare a PSD for the rigors they will find when asked to work in an overhead environment. These programs drill divers in the tricks/strategies that make working in an overhead possible. They will be coached on the specialized equipment they must carry, which includes lights (primary and backups), cutting devices (several, and carried in easy-to-reach locations on harness, body and pockets), redundant gas source (even on surface supplied), and a harness and line.
Most of all, this sort of training will coach PSD teams in all aspects of risk management that will help to keep them safe and give them the highest chance of success.
Chances are that your PSD Team has been or will soon have an overhead environment mission to complete. Please consider contacting your local ERDI PSD professional for help making sure the job runs as smoothly as possible and ALL your team members are protected by the right information and training.
To find a facility to assist you and or your Team, please visit:
www.sdi-onlinetraining.com/divers/index_facilities_courses.php
For additional information contact ERDI at:
Please email omnidive@gmail.com if you are interested or want additional information.
International Training
18 Elm St
Topsham, ME 04086
USA P: 1-888-778-9073 P: 1-207-729-4201
F: 1-207-729-4453 E: worldhq@tdisdi.com
Monday, May 02, 2011
DAN Courses Streamlined for Better Education
This summer DAN’s training programs will go through a metamorphosis, streamlining the teaching process to present a better organized and more effective educational program for divers around the world.
The DAN Mission departments (Education, Medicine and Research) are working together to make sure DAN training programs meet the highest standards of first aid care, using evidence-based science as the basis for the care that is given. In the process of updating the courses to the latest information, the programs will also be consolidated and presented in the best way possible to make sure divers are prepared to handle an emergency.
Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries: This program will now include the skills of the original course along with the two resuscitation skills in the Advanced Oxygen First Aid course. If you aren’t yet certified to teach the Advanced Oxygen program, you’ll need to work with a DAN Instructor Trainer to learn these important resuscitation skills. In this consolidation, the CPR with supplemental oxygen skill is being removed from the course. This skill is the most difficult to teach and has very little added benefit in CPR as compared to CPR with a bag-valve mask or the MTV-100. Certification in CPR is still a prerequisite for this course.
On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers: This course is being revised to incorporate better techniques but will not change significantly. However, the prerequisite to be certified in Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries has been dropped. Effective immediately, you can teach this program to anyone without any prerequisites.
Diving Emergency Management Provider (DEMP): The new version of DEMP will now include all the skills from the Oxygen and Advanced Oxygen first aid courses as well as Basic Life Support and First Aid (BLSFA), First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries and the On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers courses.
To further augment DAN course offerings, DAN will release the new Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers (BLSHCP) course, which will encompass everything in BLSFA along with one- and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children and infants and suctioning, among other skills.
Diving First Aid for Professional Divers: This course will mirror the DEMP course, with the inclusion of the BLSHCP program. The market restriction will also be lifted so that dive instructors and divemasters will be able to take this course.
Along with these revisions, all DAN programs, including both BLS courses, will have online knowledge development. As a DAN Instructor, you will have the option of using the online knowledge development or using the traditional classroom method. This gives you additional options when scheduling classes.
In the interim, continue teaching DAN courses using the existing materials and following existing standards. The new guidelines are considered an improvement but do not indicate the previous standards were wrong. DAN Instructors will have until the end of 2011 to use existing materials they have in stock before being asked to use the revised materials exclusively.
Please email omnidive@gmail.com if you are interested or want additional information.
The DAN Mission departments (Education, Medicine and Research) are working together to make sure DAN training programs meet the highest standards of first aid care, using evidence-based science as the basis for the care that is given. In the process of updating the courses to the latest information, the programs will also be consolidated and presented in the best way possible to make sure divers are prepared to handle an emergency.
Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries: This program will now include the skills of the original course along with the two resuscitation skills in the Advanced Oxygen First Aid course. If you aren’t yet certified to teach the Advanced Oxygen program, you’ll need to work with a DAN Instructor Trainer to learn these important resuscitation skills. In this consolidation, the CPR with supplemental oxygen skill is being removed from the course. This skill is the most difficult to teach and has very little added benefit in CPR as compared to CPR with a bag-valve mask or the MTV-100. Certification in CPR is still a prerequisite for this course.
On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers: This course is being revised to incorporate better techniques but will not change significantly. However, the prerequisite to be certified in Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries has been dropped. Effective immediately, you can teach this program to anyone without any prerequisites.
Diving Emergency Management Provider (DEMP): The new version of DEMP will now include all the skills from the Oxygen and Advanced Oxygen first aid courses as well as Basic Life Support and First Aid (BLSFA), First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries and the On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers courses.
To further augment DAN course offerings, DAN will release the new Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers (BLSHCP) course, which will encompass everything in BLSFA along with one- and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children and infants and suctioning, among other skills.
Diving First Aid for Professional Divers: This course will mirror the DEMP course, with the inclusion of the BLSHCP program. The market restriction will also be lifted so that dive instructors and divemasters will be able to take this course.
Along with these revisions, all DAN programs, including both BLS courses, will have online knowledge development. As a DAN Instructor, you will have the option of using the online knowledge development or using the traditional classroom method. This gives you additional options when scheduling classes.
In the interim, continue teaching DAN courses using the existing materials and following existing standards. The new guidelines are considered an improvement but do not indicate the previous standards were wrong. DAN Instructors will have until the end of 2011 to use existing materials they have in stock before being asked to use the revised materials exclusively.
Please email omnidive@gmail.com if you are interested or want additional information.
Diving Emergency Specialist ProgramTo Change with Course Revisions
The Diving Emergency Specialist (DES) recognition program is intended to encourage divers to seek continuing diving education. For years DAN statistics have shown that when divers are better educated, they are safer divers.As DAN Education prepares to streamline courses, the requirements to be a DES diver and a DES Instructor will change as well.
To be a DES diver, one must meet the following qualifications:
• certification as a Rescue Diver and
• certification in DAN Diving Emergency Management Provider (DEMP) or DAN Diving First Aid for Professional Divers, or• certification in the DAN Basic Life Support and First Aid (BLSFA) or Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers (BLSHCP) course and the three stand-alone DAN courses:
— DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries
— DAN First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries
— DAN On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers
To be a DES Instructor or Trainer, one must:
• be certified to teach the DAN BLSFA or the DAN BLSHCP courses and
• have taught at least eight providers in either the DAN DEMP or Professional Divers courses or
• be certified in all four stand-alone programs and have taught eight providers in each course.
Existing DAN DES Instructors and Instructor Trainers will be grandfathered in and will not have to requalify for the new standards.
These new standards will take effect in the summer of 2011 after the program revisions are available. However, both standards will be honored throughout 2011 as DAN Instructors make the transition.
Rest assured that the DES recognition program is not going away; it is a year-round program. Every year in the fall, DAN Education offers a promotion called the DES Quest to encourage more divers to seek education. Watch the summer issue of Oxygen Window for information about the 2011 promotion.
Please email omnidive@gmail.com if you are interested or want additional information.
DAN Announces New Standards for Becoming a DAN Instructor Trainer
DAN Announces New Standards for Becoming a DAN Instructor Trainer
Over the years, we’ve had to tell many good instructor trainers that they couldn’t be DAN Trainers because they lacked a scuba instructor trainer rating. Many of these people have had years of teaching instructor level classes in other programs but simply weren’t interested in becoming scuba diving course directors, instructor qualifiers or instructor trainers.
While experience in diving is certainly one part of being a DAN Instructor Trainer, enthusiasm, love of teaching and experience in other venues are often just as important. With that in mind, DAN Education has opened the opportunity to become a DAN Instructor Trainer to a wider net of skilled and experienced teachers.
The prerequisites to attend the DAN Instructor Trainer Workshop (ITW) now include the following qualifications. Attendees must be:
Please email omnidive@gmail.com if you are interested or want additional information.
Over the years, we’ve had to tell many good instructor trainers that they couldn’t be DAN Trainers because they lacked a scuba instructor trainer rating. Many of these people have had years of teaching instructor level classes in other programs but simply weren’t interested in becoming scuba diving course directors, instructor qualifiers or instructor trainers.
While experience in diving is certainly one part of being a DAN Instructor Trainer, enthusiasm, love of teaching and experience in other venues are often just as important. With that in mind, DAN Education has opened the opportunity to become a DAN Instructor Trainer to a wider net of skilled and experienced teachers.
The prerequisites to attend the DAN Instructor Trainer Workshop (ITW) now include the following qualifications. Attendees must be:• an active scuba instructor trainer with a recognized training agency, or
• an active PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) Staff Instructor or SS DiveCon Instructor and with DAN Diving Emergency Specialist (DES) Instructor recognition, or
• an instructor trainer with a recognized CPR/first aid organization and with DAN DES Instructor recognition
By requiring new DAN Instructor Trainers who aren’t diving instructor trainers to hold the DES Instructor rating, these new trainers will have a useful combination of instructor-trainer-level experience along with dive leader credentials and experience teaching DAN classes.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
ERDI Challenge Coin: Inaugural recipients are recognized for contributions to Public Safety Diving
“This group of individuals have had a positive impact on Public Safety diving and more specifically have earned the appreciation and recognition of their peers in this important and growing segment of the service dive industry,” commented Brian Carney, president of ERDI.
Describing the ERDI Challenge Coin as a “small sign of our most sincere appreciation and a way to say thank you for all the effort made in the promotion and teaching of ERDI Public Safety Diving courses over the years,” Carney went on to explain that the first recipient of the honor are now charged with a new responsibility.
“We are asking this group of very special individuals to continue their work and additionally to help us identify the next wave of PSD educators and other team members who deserve the special recognition that is associated with the Challenge Coin.”
Carney said that during the past few years, several events at home and abroad have highlighted the need for comprehensive and standardized training for public safety dive teams. “Natural disasters, massive oil spills, and the destruction of homes by floods have shown us how important this service can be in any sized community. And how important it is to continue to develop and support individuals with the right training, equipment and infrastructure to offer help in the toughest of conditions and harshest circumstances.
The list of recipients of the inaugural ERDI Challenge Coin includes:
Paul Montgomery
Ed Christini
Shawn Harrison
Jeff Smith
Buddy Brown
Joey Brown
Britt Clark
Jonathan Huber
Michael Glenn
Dart Craytor
Phillip Graf
Jacques Brassard
Dale Autry
Matthew Gruca
Henry Woronka
Charles Herman
Joe Mokry
Wendell Nope
Ronald Kurth
Michael Bourne
Buck Buchanan
Ronald Dorneker
Bill Hardman
Spencer Slate
Sam Rich
Rodney Pedersen
Mike Pedersen
Dan Howard
J. Mathieu Burden
Bret Gilliam
Mitch Skaggs
Ed Young
Phil Venture
James Wilk
Jason Martin
Keith Cormican
Bill Nichols
Glen Faith
Ray Mazzola
Grady Weston
Justin Weston
Ron Westmoreland
Dan Vaccaro
Brian Vaccaro
If you are a member of a Public Safety Dive Team, are a member of ERDI or are interested in finding out more about the ERDI Challenge Coin or how to nominate an individual to receive one, please contact ERDI Headquarters.
DAN Offers Unique Training Programs for Divers, Professionals
Spaces Still Available for the 69th DAN Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Course Released on: 2/15/2011
If you are a diver with an interest in diving medicine, DAN® offers a unique opportunity to deepen your diving education.
The 69th DAN Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Course taking place Apr. 9-16, 2011 in Little Cayman, marks the debut of a new partnership between DAN and the Wilderness Medical Society. This six-day course is designed primarily for physicians. Emergency medical personnel, paramedics, nurses and professionals with interest in diving medicine may also find the course valuable. The program includes lectures, case presentations, printed support materials, and both formal and informal discussion sessions with faculty.
Education is not the only benefit of attending, however, as attendees may enjoy all the program location has to offer. The rooms and tropical foliage of Little Cayman Beach Resort capture the warmth and beauty of the island of Little Cayman. The resort sits on a private beach with views of the Caribbean water and reefs. Divers from around the globe have proclaimed Little Cayman as one of the world’s premier dive destinations with pristine reefs, excellent visibility and incredible diving. The coral canyons, sand chutes and sponge-covered walls are all part of the Little Cayman dive experience. Turtles are a common sighting. Eagle rays, angelfish, reef sharks and grouper are among the 500-plus species of fish documented in Little Cayman waters.
In addition to the world-class diving, guests can explore the island trails or, for a rental fee, kayak the clear waters. The resort property includes a swimming pool, hot tub, beach hammocks, basketball and tennis courts and fitness center. The on-site boutique, Mermaids, carries a range of gifts and essentials. The Nature Spa caters to both men and women with a variety of spa treatments. Wireless Internet access is available throughout the resort.
The package assembled for DAN CME course participants includes seven nights lodging, three buffet meals daily and 11 scheduled dives. Room and meal taxes and gratuities are included. Nitrox and rental dive equipment is available at additional charge.
For those unable to attend the 69th course but wish to take advantage of DAN continuing medical education opportunities, the 70th DAN Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Course is scheduled in Roatan, Honduras, Oct. 22-29, 2011.
For more information on or to register for a DAN continuing medical education course, contact DAN CME at (919) 684-2948 x.556 or email cme@dan.org.
or
Please email omnidive@gmail.com if you are interested or want additional information.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
ERDI Surface Ice Rescue, January 21 - 23, 2011, Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath Falls, OR
ERDI Surface Ice Rescue, January 21 - 23, 2011, Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath Falls, OR
Friday evening we met at 1915 and completed liability releases and medical forms and statements of understanding and checking for proof of open water diver certification.
Then we had a presentation by one of the instructors along with an active participation by all participants. We went over gear configurations and what additional items we would need for the open water portion of the course.
My local representative had determined there is anywhere from 2 - 4 inches of ice on top of the Upper Klamath Lake situated in Klamath County, Oregon.
We then had a planning meeting during breakfast at 0800 at Elmer's on 6th in Klamath Falls. Then we moved at 0900 to a gear gathering meeting at the Klamath County Sheriff Dive Rescue Station at Highway 97 and Wocus Road.
Items that we required:
Bring warm clothes and boots suitable for tromping on the ice then when you are not in the water you will be tending.
Bring extra gloves and your dry suits and if you really want to you can bring your wet suits as we usually have an individual each year that wants to try it in his/her wet suit.
Depending on interest we can dive on Sunday and you can leave from the Lake or we might even try a different location.
We also conducted a surface ice rescue instructor course.
As with all of my courses we enjoy having those already certified as surface ice rescue technicians to come along and get on the ice or help on top as a tender.
PLEASE
Bring food/snacks/water/hot chocolate.
The cost of the course is $225 plus $45 for books and materials and $25 for certification fees. If you wish an additional certification from your favorite agency please contact me to see if it available.
Drive Carefully as the roads in and out of the area can be very difficult at times.
For those of you traveling from out of town the Econo Lodge is inexpensive but there are also other accomodations in town.
If you have any questions please feel free to email or call me.
Please RSVP.
phil
Please email omnidive@omnidivers.com if you are interested or want additional information.
Friday evening we met at 1915 and completed liability releases and medical forms and statements of understanding and checking for proof of open water diver certification.
Then we had a presentation by one of the instructors along with an active participation by all participants. We went over gear configurations and what additional items we would need for the open water portion of the course.
My local representative had determined there is anywhere from 2 - 4 inches of ice on top of the Upper Klamath Lake situated in Klamath County, Oregon.
We then had a planning meeting during breakfast at 0800 at Elmer's on 6th in Klamath Falls. Then we moved at 0900 to a gear gathering meeting at the Klamath County Sheriff Dive Rescue Station at Highway 97 and Wocus Road.
Items that we required:
Bring warm clothes and boots suitable for tromping on the ice then when you are not in the water you will be tending.
Bring extra gloves and your dry suits and if you really want to you can bring your wet suits as we usually have an individual each year that wants to try it in his/her wet suit.
Depending on interest we can dive on Sunday and you can leave from the Lake or we might even try a different location.
We also conducted a surface ice rescue instructor course.
As with all of my courses we enjoy having those already certified as surface ice rescue technicians to come along and get on the ice or help on top as a tender.
PLEASE
Bring food/snacks/water/hot chocolate.
The cost of the course is $225 plus $45 for books and materials and $25 for certification fees. If you wish an additional certification from your favorite agency please contact me to see if it available.
Drive Carefully as the roads in and out of the area can be very difficult at times.
For those of you traveling from out of town the Econo Lodge is inexpensive but there are also other accomodations in town.
If you have any questions please feel free to email or call me.
Please RSVP.
phil
Please email omnidive@omnidivers.com if you are interested or want additional information.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Ice Diving January 23 - 25, and February 25 - 27, 2011 in Klamath Falls (Lake of the Woods), Oregon
Omni Divers Ice Diving - February 2011
OREGON - DIVING LOCATIONS:
Lake of the Woods, Klamath Falls, OR
DATES: February 25 - 27, 2011
COST: Class - $295 - Text - $35 - Certification fees - $25
PREREQUISITE: Advanced Open Water Certification or evidence of deep, navigation, and night dives
We have started the preparations for the ice dives. We will stay in motel rooms in Klamath Falls, Oregon. There is also rooms at Lake of the Woods Resort. Check their webpage http://www.lakeofthewoodsresort.com/.
OREGON - DIVING LOCATIONS:
Lake of the Woods, Klamath Falls, OR
DATES: February 25 - 27, 2011
COST: Class - $295 - Text - $35 - Certification fees - $25
PREREQUISITE: Advanced Open Water Certification or evidence of deep, navigation, and night dives
More Specific Detailed Information on February Ice Diving 2011!
We have started the preparations for the ice dives. We will stay in motel rooms in Klamath Falls, Oregon. There is also rooms at Lake of the Woods Resort. Check their webpage http://www.lakeofthewoodsresort.com/.
We will do a presentation in Klamath Falls on Friday evening at 6 pm at the new Omni Divers location. In addition, Oregon Public Broadcasting crew will be onsite to collect topside and underwater video footage of our activities. Please stop by if you are in the neighborhood.
We will get organized earlier than Friday night in order to see what everybody is going to bring as their share of shovels, tents, tarps, ropes, ice harnesses, cross cut saw, gas for the snow blower, the snow blower, blower oil, carabiners, dry clothing bags, several extra pairs of gloves, waterproof boots, dry socks, etc.
We need to provide special safety measures overnight so no one will fall in the hole, i.e. flagging, poles, etc.
Ice Diving March 2011: We have now established a date and will start in earnest for the preparations for the March 2011's ice dives. We will soon make room reservations in McCall, Idaho.
We will do a presentation in McCall on Friday evening at 6 pm at the new McCall Fire Station, McCall Idaho.
We still will need to get organized earlier than Friday night in order to see what everybody is going to bring as their share of shovels, tents, tarps, ropes, ice harnesses, cross cut saw, gas for the snow blower, the snow blower, blower oil, carabiners, dry clothing bags, several extra pairs of gloves, waterproof boots, dry socks, etc. We will need to think of special safety measures overnight so no one falls in the hole, i.e. flagging, poles, etc.
We will get organized earlier than Friday night in order to see what everybody is going to bring as their share of shovels, tents, tarps, ropes, ice harnesses, cross cut saw, gas for the snow blower, the snow blower, blower oil, carabiners, dry clothing bags, several extra pairs of gloves, waterproof boots, dry socks, etc.
We need to provide special safety measures overnight so no one will fall in the hole, i.e. flagging, poles, etc.
Ice Diving March 2011: We have now established a date and will start in earnest for the preparations for the March 2011's ice dives. We will soon make room reservations in McCall, Idaho.
We will do a presentation in McCall on Friday evening at 6 pm at the new McCall Fire Station, McCall Idaho.
We still will need to get organized earlier than Friday night in order to see what everybody is going to bring as their share of shovels, tents, tarps, ropes, ice harnesses, cross cut saw, gas for the snow blower, the snow blower, blower oil, carabiners, dry clothing bags, several extra pairs of gloves, waterproof boots, dry socks, etc. We will need to think of special safety measures overnight so no one falls in the hole, i.e. flagging, poles, etc.
About the only gear we don't have for ice diving is the tent, we can try to get the same tent we used last year from one of the ice divers or we can fabricate one from blue tarps and pvc pipe.
We have been getting interest statements and now we are getting deposits to verify how much really serious interest we have in ice diving in February in Klamath Falls in Oregon and in March 2011 in Idaho.
Please email omnidive@omnidivers.com if you are interested or want additional information.
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