First DM experience

[scubadiver888]

I was in the pool on the weekend to audit a Discover Scuba Diving. We had 9 Sea Cadets taking the DSD. There was an OWSI and a DM running the course.

It started off with the kids in the shallow end getting their briefing. They moved to the side of the pool and did the skills. I was placed between the students and the deep end of the pool. They all did a pretty good job. I realized I'm pretty hard on myself when I don't do an exercise perfectly. I was a little amazed when the OWSI praised a kid for a fairly crappy mask clearing. Then I realized it was probably really good for a kid who never did scuba before.

Near the end of the skills training one of the kids was shivering and they all looked pretty bored. The OWSI asked them if they wanted to go to the deep end. They all light up and shouted, 'Yes'.

They got a little more direction then headed for the deep end. The OWSI and DM took them down one at a time then let them swim around the pool. They were doing flips and goofing around on the bottom of the pool. The funniest point was when two kids tried to high five each other and TOTALLY missed. We never told them about how things seem closer than they are.

Second day at the pool was auditing the OW class. We finished up before the second DSD class was finished. I was on the deck at the deep end. I had just finished taking all my gear off when I heard a faint 'help' from the pool. I turned to see a DSD student struggling to stay on the surface. I dove in with the plan to inflate his BCD and tow him to the shallow end. Before I got half way to him the OWSI was there and taking care of the situation.

I was kind of proud of myself. Two other DM Candidates, an IDC Staff Trainer and a Life Guard on the deck. Beat them all to getting to the student. OWSI was actually right under the student as I jumped in the water. Had no chance of beating him to the rescue.

[Vercingetorix]

Well done. Good to see that you were on top of things.

[rednose83]

Glad to hear it went well!

[Tassie Diver]

Nice work! I remember my first 'rescue'. I was working as lifeguard with a bunch of older guys that were re-training for seagoing survival. One guy in his sixties, couldn't swim, had a recent triple-bypass, smoked...

There was an exercise where the candidates had to simulate swimming under oil. They took off their lifejackets, ducked under, swam a few strokes, came up and donned their lifejackets.

I took this guy to the shallow end and told him to take his jacket off, duck under, surface and put it on again. He ducked under, turned 90 degrees and took off down the slope to the deep end. Panic set in real fast and within about two seconds his arms and legs were flailing madly.

I was standing on the pool deck watching and it honestly took about another two seconds for it to sink in that this guy was on the way to drowning. I jumped in, grabbed his collar and lifted his head clear before towing him back to the shallows.

The big lesson I learned, was that drowning is silent. No mad splashing (he was underwater), no cries for help (he was still underwater) and no signs of disturbance on the surface (he was definitely underwater).

A good outcome, he coughed a bit of water out of his throat, but was fine.

[fisheater]

May I humbly and respectfully suggest that being the first to dive into the pool for the rescue may not have been the thing to do?

It's possible that the Lifeguard, Course Director and other DM Candidates were going for the pool's reach pole, safety ring or other flotation. It's generally best to first attempt a rescue without jumping into the water. At least that's what I was taught in lifeguard and rescue diver training.

[Tassie Diver]

Originally Posted by fisheater

May I humbly and respectfully suggest that being the first to dive into the pool for the rescue may not have been the thing to do?

It's possible that the Lifeguard, Course Director and other DM Candidates were going for the pool's reach pole, safety ring or other flotation. It's generally best to first attempt a rescue without jumping into the water. At least that's what I was taught in lifeguard and rescue diver training.

In all my entry-level/non-professional training, we were taught the same thing

However, at a professional level, it is considered that one should have the skills and knowledge, combined with the necessary fitness levels, to effect a hands-on rescue. By all means take a flotation aid (if readily available), but a professional is expected to get wet first. This is particularly true if there is a team working in the facility. A lifeguard entering the water will grab the attention of other team members who then provide the necessary backup.

Also, if a person is underwater/drowning and in full panic mode, don't expect them to grab something thrown/passed to them.

[comet24]

Originally Posted by Tassie Diver

In all my entry-level/non-professional training, we were taught the same thing

However, at a professional level, it is considered that one should have the skills and knowledge, combined with the necessary fitness levels, to effect a hands-on rescue. By all means take a flotation aid (if readily available), but a professional is expected to get wet first. This is particularly true if there is a team working in the facility. A lifeguard entering the water will grab the attention of other team members who then provide the necessary backup.

Also, if a person is underwater/drowning and in full panic mode, don't expect them to grab something thrown/passed to them.

Good points by everyone. I think the training depends on the area. Here in the US most training agencies follow the reach, throw, go idea in some variation or at least they did when I was still active in and teaching water rescue.

Granted there are many times this is simply not an option from the beginning and I must admit I have almost always just gone even when I may have been able to reach or throw.

I think the idea of reaching, throwing, going is great for those without proper training though. I have seen an inexperienced person become a second victim quicker then I could even get in the water. A active drowning victim will grab anything he/she can to get their head above the water.

One other point. Get others attention before you enter the water. Yell, blow a whistle(three quick burst is a single in many agencies that something is going down), just make sure others know something is happening.

BTW sounds like you did a great job in noticing something was going on and then reacting.

[Daved]

Great job reacting--I assume that you followed your protocols. Different areas, different levels of training will dictate the how and when.

Good job

[scubadiver888]

Originally Posted by fisheater

May I humbly and respectfully suggest that being the first to dive into the pool for the rescue may not have been the thing to do?

It's possible that the Lifeguard, Course Director and other DM Candidates were going for the pool's reach pole, safety ring or other flotation. It's generally best to first attempt a rescue without jumping into the water. At least that's what I was taught in lifeguard and rescue diver training.

Only aid was a reach pole. It was on the opposite side of the pool and the kid was 4 feet from me. I thought about grabbing a BCD and swimming it to him but realized he had zero air in the BCD. As a DSD student, the instructor told the kids not to touch the inflator button. I realized he just needed a little air in his BCD and he'd be fine.

Originally Posted by Tassie Diver

In all my entry-level/non-professional training, we were taught the same thing

However, at a professional level, it is considered that one should have the skills and knowledge, combined with the necessary fitness levels, to effect a hands-on rescue. By all means take a flotation aid (if readily available), but a professional is expected to get wet first. This is particularly true if there is a team working in the facility. A lifeguard entering the water will grab the attention of other team members who then provide the necessary backup.

Also, if a person is underwater/drowning and in full panic mode, don't expect them to grab something thrown/passed to them.

Yes, I was taught entering the water was the last option but when I assessed the situation I thought kid is small (I had a 250 lb diver jump on top of me during Rescue Diver training, a 100 lb kid was not going to be a problem), I knew he was told not to touch the inflator button. Best solution, inflate his BCD. Even if he jumps on top of me, I could easily get behind him.

[scubadiver888]

Originally Posted by comet24

I think the idea of reaching, throwing, going is great for those without proper training though. I have seen an inexperienced person become a second victim quicker then I could even get in the water. A active drowning victim will grab anything he/she can to get their head above the water.

I can definitely agree with this. During Rescue Diver training EVERYONE took a turn jumping on top of me at some point. First time my instructor did it I was TOTALLY amazed at how quickly she was on me and pushing me under. Second and subsequent times I was not so surprised.

One other point. Get others attention before you enter the water. Yell, blow a whistle(three quick burst is a single in many agencies that something is going down), just make sure others know something is happening.

This is one thing I didn't do. Everyone was either underwater or breaking down gear. I should have yelled something. The kid was hyperventilating so his cries for help were very quiet.