Scuba diving accidents are unfortunate but preventable. You can learn lessons from them, take preventive measures to prevent them, and get compensated if you are involved in one. Learn more about how to prevent dive accidents and how to recover from them. You've likely heard the stories of divers who were injured in dive accidents after years of diving.
Lessons from scuba dive accidents
DAN recently reported that environmental factors were major contributors to scuba divers' accidents. Rapid changes in visibility could trap divers, or deprive them from air. Problems with regulators and malfunctioning rebreather units were also factors. Divers with limited experience and fitness are also at risk due to the changing currents.
An important lesson that divers should learn is to not hold their breath underwater. Breathing, no matter how simple it may sound, helps diver calm nerves, concentrate and connect to their bodies. It is possible to avoid common diving injuries by improving your breathing technique. Additionally, you should learn how to rescue your primary regulator and share air. Ultimately, this will increase your chances of surviving a dive.
Unskilled and incorrect equipment use are the two main causes of diving injuries. These problems are often caused by poor use of the air and valves. If you experience these problems, it is best to either reconsider your dive or cancel it entirely.
Preventive steps
While scuba diving can be considered a safe sport, it is essential to do your preparation properly and follow all instructions. Small problems can be prevented from turning into major issues and causing an accident. Training and the proper equipment will make sure you do not suffer from a decompression injury, or a life-threatening emergency.
Divers should inspect their air tanks for leakages before diving. Divers should check the valve on their air tanks before diving. A partially closed valve can stop air flow to regulators, which could cause an accident. Slowly open the valve until it stops. This will prevent an excessive pressure from leading to overpressure. In addition, it can help avoid respiratory complications such as anoxia and gas narcosis.
It is important to take into account the environment you will be diving in. The water may pull the equipment or fins of a diver if it is murky. In addition, strong underwater currents can separate a diver from the boat cover. They may be stranded underwater. They may not be noticed by the boat crew if the visibility is poor. Divers should always carry yellow flags in order to attract attention. They can also use a personal submersible EPIRB (emergency oxygen) or vhf radio to signal their presence to those on shore.
Compensation for accident victims
You may be eligible for compensation if you are injured in a diving accident. The amount of compensation that you can claim depends on the type of accident you were involved in and how severe the injuries were. Compensation for lost wages may be available if the accident occurred while you were working on a commercial dive vessel. To learn more about what compensation you may be eligible for, consult an experienced attorney.
If you were hurt on a diveboat, the captain may be liable. You may be able sue the captain if he or she was drunk or negligent. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries sustained while diving if the boat is defective.