emergency action plan 1972
DESCRIPTION
Diving Emergency Action PlanTRANSCRIPT
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)When an injury occurs, an EAP should be activated immediately if the injured person:
Is not breathing Does not have a pulse Is bleeding profusely Has impaired consciousness Has injured the back, neck or head Has a visible major trauma to a limb
Roles and responsibilities
Charge person
Clear the risk of further harm to the injured person by securing the area and shelter the
Injured person from the elements.
Designate who is in charge of the other participants.
Protect yourself (wears gloves if he/she is in contact with body fluids such as blood).
Assess ABCD’s (checks the airway is clear, breathing is present, a pulse is present, and
There is no major bleeding).
Wait by the injured person until EMS arrives and the injured person is transported.
Fill in a accident report form.
Call person
Call for emergency help.
Provide all necessary information to dispatch (e.g. facility location, nature of injury,
What, if any first aid has been done).
Clear any traffic from the entrance/access road before ambulance when it arrives.
Wait by the driveway entrance to the facility to direct the ambulance when it arrives.
Call the emergency contact person listed on the injured person’s medical profile.
Table of contents
1. Emergency Action Plan Checklist2. Immediate first aid3. Emergency services and what to say4. Emergency information5. Steps to follow when an injury occurs6. Signs & symptoms with their treatment7. Lost or missing diver(s) procedures
Emergency Action Plan Checklist
Access to
____ Mobile phone, battery well charged
____ Suitable first aid kit
____ Oxygen
____ Accurate directions to site
____ Pure water/ vinegar/ acetic acid
____ Emergency blanket
____ Plastic bags
____ Fruit juice/ sweets
First Aid Kit
____ Barriers: Latex or vinyl gloves, pocket mask.
____ Sterile gauze/ non adherent, dry pads.
____ Clinging rolled/ adhesive bandages/ tape.
____ Antibiotics: aspirin
____ Bandage scissors, tweezers, needle
Participant information
____ Personal profile forms
____ Emergency contacts
____ Medical profiles
Personnel information
____ Person in charge is identified
____ Call person is identified
____ Assistants (charge and cell persons) are identified
Immediate first aid when victim is out of the water
(Treatment is the same for suspected lung-expansion injury or decompression sickness.)
Step 1: Lay the victim on their back and keep them from moving
Step 2: Monitor “ ABCD’S”
Step 3: Contact EMS
Step 4: If the victim is conscious, calm him or her
Step 5: Keep the victim’s airway open
Step 6: If the victim is unconscious, check for breathing again
a. If not breathing, confirm not responsive and not breathing state(if not done yet, send somebody quickly to cell EMS)
b. Administer two emergency breaths and proper CPR Give 30 compressions of sternum then two breaths, repeat indefinitely until
EMS arrives ( if you have two rescuers DELEGATE) Do compressions at a rate of 100 per minute for adults Administer 100% oxygen through continuous-regulator (15L) with the
pocket mask system while administering two emergency breaths
Step 7: If victim is conscious & breathing, administer 100% oxygen through demand- regulator valve system (Keep oxygen flowing smoothly until EMS arrives)
Step 8: Protect victim from excessive heat, cold.
Step 9: If a spinal injury is to be suspected, maintain the line head-neck-body and keep it immobilize for the whole EFR.
Step 10: Arrange for immediate evacuation when EMS arrives.
Emergency Services and “What to say ?”
At sea All incidents: Coastguard By VHF CH16 or phone 999
Lives in immediate danger: Mayday (distress button)
Decompression illness: Pan Pan
On land Decompression illness: BHA/RN Divers helpline
England, Wales, Northern Ireland: 07831 151523
Scotland: 0845 408 6008
Near drowning: Ambulance 999 or 112
Lost diver: Coastguard/Police 999 or 112
EMS Communication script
“Hay, my name is <give your first name> and I’m calling you from the following phone number< give the phone number you call with>.
I’m calling you for an emergency. We have < give nature of the problem, illness or accident>.
We are at <give location>. We have < give number of victim/patient> and there state are
<give gravity state of each patient/victim>. For now, we have done <give first response and second
response that have been done, and any other measure taken>.
<Respond to any question if possible, possibly asked by the EMS>
<give SAMPLE information for each victim/patient if asked>
<wait until the EMS tells you to hang up, or gives you any other inquiry
Emergency information
EVEN:__________________________________________________________
SITE: Porthkerris Divers , Porthkerris Cove, st Keverne, Cornwell TR12 6QJ
FACILITY OWNER/MANAGER ______________________________________
ALTERNATE CHARGE PERSON FOR FACILITY:__________________________
LOCATION OF FIRST AID KIT:_______________________________________
LOCATION OF MEDICAL PROFILES:__________________________________
LOCATION OF PHONES ON SITE:____________________________________
Phone numbers
Ambulance: 999 or 112
Coastguard/Police: VHF CH16 or 999 or 112
Hospital: 01872252708
DDRC emergency number 24hrs: 01752209999The Hyperbaric Medical Centre(Diving diseases Research CentreTamar Science ParkResearch WayPlymouthPL6 8BU
Advise on diving related incidents phoneRoyal Navy Doctor: 07831151523
Porthkerris Dive Site – Grid Ref SW806227Facility (where you are): 01326280620
Step to follow when an injury occurs
Step 1: control the environment so no further harm occursStop all participants.Protect yourself if you suspect bleeding (put on gloves).If outdoors, shelter the injured participant from the elements and from any traffic
Step 2: Do a first assessment of the situationIf the participant:
Is not breathing Does not have a pulse Is bleeding profusely Has impaired consciousness Has injured the back, neck, or a limb Has a visible major trauma to a limb Cannot move his/her arms or legs or has lost feeling in them
If the participant does not show the signs above, proceed to step 3
Step 3: Do a second assessment of the situation Gather the facts by asking the injured participant as well as anyone who witnessed the incident. Stay with the participant and try to calm him/her; your tone of voice and body language are critical.
If possible, have the participant move himself/herself the playing surface. Do not attempt to move an injured participant.
Step 4: Assess the injury Have someone with first aid training complete an assessment of the injury And decide how to proceed.
If the person trained in first aid is not sure of the severity of the injury or there is on one available who as first aid training, activate EAP. If the assessor is not sure the injury is minor, proceed to step 5.
Step 5: control the return to activity Allow a participant to return to activity after a minor injury only if there is no:
Swelling / deformity / continued bleeding / reduced range of motion Pain when using the injured part
Signs & Symptoms with their treatments
Signs & Symptoms Cause Treatment
Decompression sickness
Type 1:o Pain In Limbs, chest
and joints.
Type 2:o Breathing difficultieso Unconsciousnesso Coordination losso Blurred visiono Numbness and tinglingo Vertigoo Paralysiso Weakness and fatigueo Pain in limbs, chest and
joints
Decompression sickness (DCS) – DCS can occur up to 36 hours after last dive.
For a breathing patient:
o Lay patient down give 100% pure oxygen one a demand valve.
o Monitor ABCD’s – Contact EMS.
o Prepare patient for EMS evacuation.
o Take notes about the diver’s latest 24h activities.
For a none breathing patient:
o Give 2 rescue breaths and CPR.
o Give patient 100% pure oxygen one continuous valve through the pocket mask (15L/mn).
o Monitor ABCD’s – Contact EMS.
o Prepare patient for EMS evacuation.
o Take notes about divers last 24h activities.
Signs & Symptoms Cause Treatment
o Coughingo Weak or non-
breathingo Frothing around
moutho Cardiac arrest
Near Drowningo If conscious, give 100% pure
oxygen using a demand valve.
o If not, give 2 rescue breath and administer 100% pure oxygen from a continuous valve though a pocket mask (15L/mn).
o Put patient in recovery position.
o Monitor ABCD’s – Contact EMS.
o Treat for shock.o Continue monitoring and
take the patient nearest medical services even when feeling better (prevent secondary drowning).
o Coughing blood upon surface or blood froth coming out of mouth.
o Paralysis.o Unconsciousness.o Weak or non-
breathing.o Dizziness, confusion.o Strange behaviour of
character.
Lung over expansion(rapid ascent)
o Lie patient in recovery position.
o Give 100% pure oxygen (15L/mn).
Continuous flow through pocket mask if unconscious.
Continuous flow through bag if unconscious (25L/mn if necessary).
o Monitor ABCD’s – Contact EMS.
o Evacuate to nearest recompression chamber (to prevent gas embolism).
Signs & Symptoms Cause Treatment
o Strong and rapid pulse.
o Flushed and hot skin.o No sweating.o Unconsciousness.o Possible brain and
organ damage.
Heat Strokeo Provide shade,
remove diver exposure suit and other clothing.
o Cool diver by sponging, misting or fanning (aggressively), ice bath.
o Monitor ABCD’s – Contact EMS.
o Evacuate diver to medical centre.
o Weak and rapid breathing.
o Weak and rapid pulse.
o Cool and clammy skin.
o Heavy sweating.o Dehydration.o Nausea and
weakness.
Heat Exhaustiono Provide shade.o Open or remove
divers exposure suit.
o Provide lots of fluids (non-alcoholic or without caffeine) to 1L maximum.
o If symptoms persist after a few hours, contact EMS.
o Uncontrollable Shivering.
o Weak pulse.o Blue fingers, lips and
toes.o Confusion.o Unconsciousness.
Hypothermiao Move into warm
place.o Apply heat to neck,
armpits and groin.o Do not rewarm.o Contact EMS.
Signs & Symptoms Cause Treatment
o Weak breathing.o Pale moist clammy
skin.o Nausea.o Anxiety.o Thirst.o Rapid pulse.
Shocko Lie patient flat.o Maintain
temperature.o No food or drink
(only water).o Monitor ABCD’s –
Contact EMS.
o Pain.o Puncture wound.o Shock.o Nausea.o Paralysis.
Sea urchins sting and fish spines
o Remove spines with tweezers.
o Put affected wound in hot water (30 – 90 minutes).
o Contact EMS in case of serious symptoms.
o Red swollen skin.o Intense stinging
pain.o Tentacles present.o Shock.
Jelly fish stingo Remove tentacles
with tweezers.o Rinse wound with
vinegar.o Rinse with sea
water (if not polluted).
o Contact EMS in case of serious symptoms.
LOST or MISSING DIVER(S)
IF DIVERS HAVE NOT RETURNED WHEN EXPECTED OR A DIVER IS REPORTED MISSING, THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE IS TO BE FOLLOWED.
1. Position a look-out (as high as possible).2. For a missing diver, question the buddy, if available, and record the following
detail;
Direction and strength of current. Dive plan. Place last seen. Time last seen. Status of air. Maximum depth planned and reached. Physical condition of lost diver. Lost diver’s possible action in an emergency (eg prone to panic).
For a lost buddy pair, as much of the above detail as possible, should be determined in consultation with the Dive Leader, and other relevant divers. This detail should be written down for later reference.
3. Assess the degree of urgency (overdue or long overdue, taking into account the diver’s plan and previous repetitive dive profile if known).
4. Recall all diver’s in the water if possible.5. Organise personal and equipment for search.
Plan search with usual safety precautious considered ( Dangerous – Depth – Time – Air).
6. Phone for help Coast Guard: VHF CH16 or 999 or 112 Porthkerris search and rescue dive centre: 01326 552516 (937812516)
If lose contact with your buddy under water, follow the lost buddy procedure. Search for them for not more than 1 minute, then surface.