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Medical & Fitness
Section
Understanding Asthma
Pollen Under The Scanning Electron Microscope
Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects 3-8% of the general population, thus also divers or would-be divers. It is defined as an increased responsiveness to the lower airways to multiple stimuli.
CMAS endorses the 2020 Diver 'Medical Statement'
Now CMAS—the World Underwater Federation—has decided to endorse the 2020 Diver Medical Screening system.
Surviving Lockdown
For most of us in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, being away from diving in itself is enough to cause withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes, factors such as work, weather and lifestyle can mean that we take longish breaks, although I do not think anyone has taken such a long break before—certainly not one that left no choice and one that required significant lifestyle changes and restrictions.
DAN Publishes Guidelines for Lifelong Medical Fitness to Dive
The document, which is intended to be used by divers, dive professionals and doctors, establishes a schedule for medical questionnaires and physical evaluations based on age and other relevant factors.Â
“Scuba certifications are generally valid for divers’ entire lives, but everyone’s health status changes over time,” said DAN medical director Jim Chimiak, M.D. “Our goal with this schedule is to provide useful guidance that divers can rely on to feel safe and confident in the water.”Â
The RSTC 'Medical Statement' form has been updated
The 'Medical Statement' form' is currently used by the majority of divers undertaking training. It was first published in 1989.
DAN Answers FAQs About Returning to Diving
Covered topics include safety practices for retail areas, staff and client interactions, dive boat operations, gear disinfection protocols and more. As dive professionals, dive operators and dive business owners prepare and develop plans to resume operation, DAN encourages all to review Dive Operations and COVID-19: Prepping for Return.
In addition to taking a look at these frequently asked questions, be sure to check out some of our other articles and resources at DAN.org/COVID-19.
Diving in the Era of COVID-19
Diving in the era of COVID-19: How do we safely go diving again?
April 2020 — I come to you as a recreational and technical diving instructor, as a physician consultant for Divers Alert Network, and as a COVID-19 survivor. For me, it was just an occupational hazard. I tested positive for COVID-19 after seeing a patient in my cardiology clinic for an unrelated condition who seemed quite short of breath. He was admitted to the ICU and tested positive for COVID-19.
Diving docs warn using scuba when freediving can be fatal
The Australian authors—Dr Neil Banham (lead) and Dr John Lippmann—reported that a 26-year-old healthy male freediver dived to 10m (32.8ft) where he met a friend who was diving on scuba. The freediver breathed from a scuba regulator before ascending.
It may have been that he held much of his breath during ascent, which would have been his usual and generally safe practice with normal breath hold diving. — Banham, Lippmann
Older scuba divers at risk of heart attack
Cardiac issues have become a leading factor in diving fatalities, according to a study. Hence, older scuba divers have been advised to have regular fitness assessments with their doctors and cut down on factors that can increase one's risk of suffering a heart attack when diving.
Although it is mandatory to be screened for fitness and have one's dive skills certified prior to being issued a C-Card, such certification lasts a lifetime.