Abstract
AIM: The purpose was to explore causative tendencies among diving fatalities to prevent similar injuries in the future.
METHODS: We report 33 fatal diving injuries that occurred among Danish divers during the period 1999-2012 in Scandinavian waters. The study was performed as a retrospective overview. The empiric data consists of police reports, forensic autopsy reports and examination of the diving equipment. Data were assembled and analyzed using Pivot and Excel. Frequencies and means (± SD) were used to describe categorical and continuous variables respectively.
RESULTS: The mean age was 38.9 years and drowning was considered the cause of death in 24 of 28 divers for whom a diagnosis was possible. Elevated body mass index (18 of 22 divers had a BMI 〉 25) was overrepresented in our group compared to the background population. A drysuit was worn by 17 divers. Diving independently of a dive centre and mishandling of buoyancy aids were common risk factors. Only two divers released their weights. Three-quarters of those who did not would have increased their chance of survival by doing so; nevertheless, in a quarter of cases the weights were not readily releasable or not releasable at all.
CONCLUSION: Unfamiliarity with drysuit diving, lack of a diving buddy and mismanagement of weights were important contributors to diving injuries.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Pages (from-to) | 142-149 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISSN | 1833-3516 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2016 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Body Mass Index
- Cause of Death
- Certification
- Denmark
- Diving
- Drowning
- Equipment Failure Analysis
- Female
- First Aid
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Panic
- Physical Fitness
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Seasons
- Sex Distribution
- Young Adult
- Journal Article
