Looking for some good scuba reading?

Posted on by jon

If you’re like me, scuba is a big part of your life.   I also love to read.   Unfortunately, I rarely read good fiction that accurately and safely describes scuba diving.   Look no further!   My friend, Eric Douglas, is both a talented writer and a scuba instructor.  Eric has an interesting history with a background in journalism, scuba instruction and working for both PADI and DAN.   He’s written four adventure novels (available on Kindle, so you can get them right now) around “Mike Scott” a photojournalist and part-time adventure-hero.

Eric’s most recent novel, “Wreck of the Huron” is set against the historical sinking of the USS Huron in the 1870’s while en route to Cuba.  He’s woven an intricate story of intrigue and conspiracy with a fictional organization trying to help destabilize Spain’s government whilst it’s involved in the Cuban revolution.   Excellent read, but be prepared to lose some sleep–I did!

 

Diver Medical Technician text by Cmdr Ron Ellerman

Posted on by jon

I just received my copy of Diver Medical Technician by Cmdr Ron Ellerman from Amazon today. Ron taught my DMT course in Roatan, Honduras.  I agree with Dr. Peter Holzhauer–it’s a great compendium on prehospital emergency care and diving medicine.   Just a quick look through the text will show you that.

The text covers

  • History of Diving and Hyperbarics
  • Roles and Responsibilities of the Diver Medic
  • Diving Physics
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Patient Assessment
  • Decompression & Recompression tables
  • Hyperbaric Chambers
  • Pressure Injuries/Illness
  • Medical and Marine Injuries
  • Airway & Breathing Maintenance
  • Vascular Access & medication administration
  • Soft Tissue Injury
  • Musculoskeletal injury
  • Cardiac Emergencies
  • Related Medical Procedures
  • Saturation Diving Issues
  • and “Live Bait”

 

 

Of course, I’m also quite happy that Ron included one of the photos from my DMT course.   Page 11-39, figure 11-19 has a great photo of an infiltration at an IV site.   Here’s the color version.

bulging under the skin due to IV infiltration

While Ron listed “Photo by Jon Rusho” he left out “Infiltration by Jon Rusho”, too.

Ron kindly left out that the infiltration I took a photo of was also my fault.  Sorry about that, Bryce.    It was a great learning experience, even though it was painful.   If you want to see more of the photos, click here for our IV practice lab.

Ron also included one of my photos showing a jellyfish sting.  [Page 9-32, Figure 9-26]

skin irritation from a jellyfish sting redened stripes where the person was stung

Unlike the IV, I only took the photo here. Unfortunately, this diver was stung by some jellyfish tentacles.

If you’re interested in the DMT text, the DMT program or just being better prepared while diving, check out Ron Ellerman’s Diver Medical Technician text.  You can also sign up for his DMT program at www.divermedicaltechnician.com

Course Calendar

Posted on by jon

Looking for a course calendar?   Here you go:

Pro Courses [PADI IDC, DAN IQC, PADI MSDT Prep, etc]

July 27-July 29 DAN IQC at Dive Utah, Holladay

Aug 24-26, Aug 31-Sept 2, Sept 7-9  PADI IDC  at Dive Utah, Holladay

Sept 15-16  PADI IE at the Homestead Resort/Crater, Midway, UT

Sept 28-30  DAN IQC at Dive Utah, Holladay

Oct 6-7,13-14  MSDT Prep

 

Diver Courses

No set schedule at this time.   Contact me to arrange for your scuba training.

I teach some awesome scuba classes including:

  • PADI Open Water Diver, Adventure Diver & Advanced Open Water, PADI Rescue Diver and a ton of specialty courses.
  • DAN Diving First Aid courses to get you ready to handle diving emergencies
  • Emergency First Response CPR & First aid programs–for diving and non-diving emergencies.

I can take you from non-diver to Divemaster in a few months, non-diver to Instructor in slightly more than 6 months and Master Diver Trainer shortly after that.   Let me change your life and you could be working in the tropics, sailing the blue seas and exploring the underwater world…or you can stay where you are, sitting in a cubicle, answering a phone and cussing at your computer.

Beach at Blue Bahia Resort, Roatan, HN

Imagine this as your office!

 

 

DMT Recertificaton & Continuing Education

Posted on by jon

DMT Recertificaton

Here’s a short summary of what the National Board of Diving & Hyperbaric Medical Technology requires:

  • 24 CEUs related to emergency medicine
  • 24 hours of diving medicine or other emergency related experience
  • Medical fitnesss to undergo compression/fitness to dive
  • documentation for invasive skills
    • IV access
    • IM injections
    • SQ injections
    • urinary catheters
    • NG/OG tubes
    • airway suction
    • advanced airways
    • chest decompression
    • BLS

And…that’s every two years.

As I’m coming up on the 2-year mark since I completed my DMT training with Hyperbaric Training Associates, I’m focusing on getting all of my training done.

The first problem I ran into was that my initial EMT training was in Central America and the State of Utah didn’t recognize it.   Earlier this year, I completed a Utah-approved EMT course through Cole-Holland.  This was a good refresher and, since Utah has adopted the revised National curriculum, it keeps me up-to-date.   Unfortunately, the EMT curriculum covers only a few skills necessary for my DMT recertification.    My next step is the Advanced EMT course, which will cover almost everything except chest decompression and urinary catheters.   I’m still on a hunt for local training in those skills.

Does this mean that I waited until the last minute to accumulate CEUs?   No way!   I’ve participated in several continuing education programs, including online seminars from Divers Alert Network (DAN) and a really interesting program co-sponsored by JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services) on improving the quality of CPR.

Comparing my initial EMT training with the EMT training I received through Cole-Holland, there were some big differences in approach.   Both approaches were good, for the environment they’re in, though.

Cole-Holland has an excellent team of EMS instructors that have a lot of experience in urban fire service-based EMS.   Some of the best aspects included a team-approach to dealing with emergencies.    The ride-along arranged with Sandy Fire Department provided an excellent application of what we learned in class and labs.   My EMT training in Central America, though, highlighted the lack of developed EMS systems and that an EMT often needed to be a bit more creative since there may not be a team to help.   From a Dive Medic point-of-view, the Central American approach is probably the more applicable if you’re in a remote location.   When a DMT is in an area supported by a well-developed EMS system, though, working as a team makes more sense.   I’m very happy to have seen and worked in both environments.

Time to step away from the computer and go read some more of my Advanced EMT text…

Aquarium Injuries

Posted on by jon

Aquarium injuries?   Why is this on a scuba website?

 

octopus on cross logo

DAN (Divers Alert Network) Hazardous Marine Life Injuries was originally created for scuba divers due to the potential for injury whilst diving.   Aquarium workers and aquarium owners, though, can also benefit from this information.   In addition to CPR and First Aid training, you’ll be well prepared for potential problems.

What you should know:

  • First, make sure the scene is safe.   If you’re providing care to someone that is injured, make sure you don’t become a victim.   Alert EMS if needed.
  • For jellyfish, the current guidelines are to use vinegar to neutralize the sting.   Use tweezers to remove tentacles.  Don’t touch them with your bare hands!
  • For punctures from various spines, remove visible pieces with tweezers.   Immerse in hot water for 30-90 minutes (113F/45C max).
  • For bites, control bleeding with direct pressure.   Once bleeding stops, bandage the wound.  Monitor for shock and/or infection.
  • For any severe reaction or signs/symptoms of shock, alert EMS.

For anyone working with aquatic life, I highly suggest you complete a CPR/First Aid class, the DAN Hazardous Marine Life Injuries class and the DAN Emergency Oxygen course.  Combining the three, you’ll learn:

  • Scene assessment, barrier use, primary assessment of an injured person
  • CPR and Choking Management
  • Shock, Spinal Injury and Serious Bleeding Management
  • Bandaging and splinting
  • Illness and Injury management
  • How to set up and deliver emergency oxygen to an injured person using a non-rebreather mask, a demand valve, a manually-triggered ventilator and a bag-valve mask.
  • Be able to identify four types of hazardous marine life injuries, name five venomous fish and list five common signs of envenomation.
  • Be able to name at least three aquatic animals that might bite someone and list two common warning signs of a marine animal bite.
  • and much more, but the most important thing is:
  • You’ll practice how to take care of these problems

Not sure if there are many aquarium injuries?   Check out this recent article in the Journal of EMS (JEMS) about a toddler bitten by a pet piranha.

This applies to not just home aquariums with exotic fish, but can also apply to commercial aquariums.   I’ve often been told by aquarists I know that their hands are inflamed and feel odd after handling jelly fish.  Luckily, none of them have had allergic reactions to the jellyfish.

Contact me now to talk about how you can be better prepared for aquarium injuries.   If you are a diver working at an aquarium, I also teach the DAN Diving First Aid for Professional Divers course that also covers some skills at the healthcare-provider level.

 

[Also, don’t be worried about shark bites.   They’re quite rare.   Sharks have much more to fear from us than we do from them.]