|
|
Rubicon Research Repository >
Rubicon Foundation Archive >
UHMS Meeting Abstracts >
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/1161
|
| Title: | REDUCING DELAYS IN TREATMENT - HOW SPORTS DIVERS IN ORKNEY RESPOND TO ACCIDENTS |
| Authors: | Trevett, AJ
Forbes, RF
Rae, CK
Sheehan, C |
| Keywords: | decompression illness
DCS
Orkney
Scapa flow
Emergency callout system
delay in treatment
human
ACCIDENT |
| Issue Date: | 2002 |
| Abstract: | Introduction: There is evidence to suggest that the outcomes of recompression for DCI are adversely affected by delay in instituting treatment. Delays occur before (phase 1) and after (phase 2) emergency services are alerted. Reducing phase 1 delays involves understanding how divers respond to a problem. Materials and Methods: The Orkney Hyperbaric Unit (OHU) manages all diving incidents in Scapa Flow and surrounding waters. We have an emergency protocol for all dive related incidents. All divers with a potential problem are asked to inform their diveboat skipper who activates the OHU callout system via the coastguard. Not all divers choose to use this system. We have analysed clinical and procedural information from incidents in which therapeutic recompression was required. Results: Route of alerting OHU, Coastguard Self-referred, n n, Symptoms to contact (mins) 33 44 (1-270,30) 26 396 (17-2760,240), p less than 0.005 KWT, Symptoms to treatment (mins) 33 121 (65-320, 109) 26 477, (50-2850,335), p less than 0.005 KWT, Diagnosis Qualification Qualification, DCIJ 9 4SD,2AD,3DL, 11 3SD,4AD,1N,1RD, DCIN 6 1SD,2AD,3DL, 13 4SD,2AD,5DL, MDWS 16 5SD,6AD,3DL,1RD, 0, DCIC 2 1AD 2 1SD,1DL, All DCI/MDNS 33 10SD,11AD,8DL,1RD, 26 8SD,6AD,6DL,1N,1RD, DCIJ -Decompression illness with predominantly joint, cutaneous (DCIC) or neurological manifestations (DCIN), MDWS - Missed decompression without symptoms, SD - Sports Diver, AD-Advanced Diver, DL- Dive Leader, RD - Rescue Diver, I-Instructor, KWT - Kruskal-Wallis Test. Conclusions: The use of an emergency callout system reduces the time from onset of symptoms to treatment. Both phase 1 and phase 2 delays are reduced. Delay in seeking help cannot be explained by inexperience or presenting symptoms in this series. A significant proportion of sports divers in Orkney either fail to identify DCI or underestimate the potential consequences of untreated decompression illness. decompression illness, delay in treatment, Orkney, Scapa flow, Emergency callout system, |
| Description: | Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc. (http://www.uhms.org ) |
| URI: | http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/1161 |
| Appears in Collections: | Undesignated Accident and Fatality Reports
UHMS Meeting Abstracts
|
All items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved.
|
