MEDICAL SERVICES
2 0 2 1
S P E C I A L
E D I T I O N
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
You’ve completed your pretrip planning and will make adjustments to your dive practices; now what? Traveling to remote destinations can be wonderful, but remember that if it took a plane, a train, a boat and a donkey to get you there, help will likely require the same route to reach you. This is a sobering reality for those visiting exotic destinations, but it bears consideration. As a rule of thumb, the further you travel from home or medical services, the more precautions you should employ to stack the deck in your favor. This is why having redundant medical supplies, reliable communication equipment, multiple contact options and medical training is so important. Knowing that the best scenario might be a one- to two-day wait before you can be evacuated encourages good preparation. If you’re traveling with a company, consider asking focused questions to determine how prepared they are for such contingencies and what plans they have in place for evacuation. This boils down to having an emergency action plan — a guide for what to do when bad things happen. A 14 |
2021 SPECIAL EDITION
PHOTOS BY STEPHEN FRINK
traveling and what a worst-case scenario might look like. These policies are relatively inexpensive when compared to the trip’s cost and the cost of evacuation and medical treatment. If you have questions about what your dive accident or trip insurance policy covers, call and ask. Another area of pretrip preparation that warrants attention is your medical needs. Be sure to bring enough medication with you when you travel to last the entire trip plus a few days after you return home. If the list of medications you take is long or complex, consider carrying a written list in the event of unexpected need. If you have a complicated health history, discuss your trip with your doctor, and take a detailed health history with you in case emergent medical intervention is required. Travel health risks vary from region to region; up-to-date information may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (CDC.gov). Health status requirements can vary greatly among different resorts, charter operators and dive shops. We recommend calling well ahead of time to see what they require, whether they have forms you can fill out and what sort of documentation they will use to ensure you meet their standards for medical fitness to dive. By addressing these issues early and proactively, you will encounter fewer roadblocks and unexpected restrictions. An aspect of emergency preparedness often forgotten is filing a trip plan with family or friends. Trip plans should include contact numbers, medical history, medication lists, allergies and flight plans. Such information can prove vital in the event of poor international telephone connections or spotty satellite phone coverage. Clockwise from top: Regular exercise is important for staying in diving shape. • Talk to your doctor about any medications you take before you use them while diving. • Dive computers are invaluable but do not replace the need to “plan your dive and dive your plan.” • Good hydration is important for general health and may be associated with a reduced risk of DCS. • Predive briefings ensure divers are on the same page with regard to depths, turnaround times and hand signals to be used.
substantial part of many people’s plans is to call DAN. This is an important step, but it’s only one part. DAN is here 24/7/365 to field calls, provide medical information, facilitate referrals and coordinate evacuations, but we can’t provide care over the phone or on the boat, island or lake. This is where your contingency planning and medical training (or that of your dive/travel operation) comes into play. An integral part of a good trip is a safe return with wonderful memories. The more personal responsibility you take for your own safety and well-being, the more likely it is that you will enjoy trouble-free adventures. If trouble does occur, adequate preparation, planning and a thoughtful approach will boost your confidence and minimize the extent of complications and injuries. AD
