Unconscious Scuba Diver Rescue for Lifeguards
Feb 2024.
Training based on skill level of staff and location.
Things to Note for training:
Training should be done with gear-only (no scuba divers/ persons breathing off scuba) unless Dive Safety Officer has approved.
When training with gear, please lower it by hand or with the tag line to prevent heavy impact on gear or on the bottom of the pool
Steps:
Put on goggles (snorkel mask recommended for greater than 10ft depth to prevent eye squeeze)
Clip tag line to cylinder valve, below the first stage
Use the tag line to pull up the unconscious scuba diver
Once they're at the surface, inflate their BCD and remove their weight belt to get the diver buoyant
Get diver out of the scuba equipment
Follow any lifeguard unconscious rescue steps from there
Additional techniques:
Inflate divers BCD while underwater. Float them up to the surface.
Great method unless they are out of air, in which case BCD will not inflate