RESEARCH
STEPHEN FRINK
CHECKLISTS KEYS TO SAFER DIVING? B Y
S H A B B A R
I .
R A N A P U R W A L A ,
M P H
IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, DIVE INJURIES AND FATALITIES DECLINED even as participation in scuba diving increased. This decline can be attributed to better training, equipment, research and access to health care. With the increase in participation there exists a need for continued improvement in diver safety. DAN’s research is an important part of the effort to enhance divers’ understanding of the risks, promote better protocols and raise safety awareness in the dive community. BACKGROUND
Checklists are proven tools in high-risk disciplines such as aviation and surgery. Increased use of checklists by divers may promote a reduction in injuries and fatalities. 96 |
2021 SPECIAL EDITION
We know the most common causes of dive fatalities are drowning, arterial gas embolism and cardiac incidents. The majority of these deaths are labeled drowning, but most experts believe that drowning is usually preceded by other debilitating injuries. In 2008 a DAN study investigated 947 diving deaths and suggested a common chain of events in these deaths: the triggering event, the disabling agent, the disabling injury and the cause of death. In an earlier study, researchers used a similar approach to review all work-related deaths in Australia that occurred from 1982 to 1984, identifying precursor events and contributing factors. Both these studies concluded that prevention strategies aimed at reducing triggers and precursor events could reduce injuries and fatalities. It is not easy to look back at accidents and establish their root causes, but this approach allowed the authors of both studies to conclude most accidents are caused by preventable mishaps — unplanned and unwanted events that increase the risk of injury. The mishaps identified in both studies could be categorized as human errors, equipment problems or environmental factors. The most common diving mishaps are out-of-air scenarios, rapid ascents,
