Underwater apnea is a sport that is practiced inside an environment defined as "special" (ie in water); moreover, by definition, the athletic performance of the freediver is determined by the ability to hold the breath, a variable that heavily affects the dangerousness levels of the discipline.
For many years, scuba diving remained an "activity reserved for a few" brave underwater fishermen ", or worse, for the" record-man "who alternated with the holding of depth records; to date, scuba diving is a sport in considerable expansion (especially in the female population) which embraces a much wider catchment area. However, in order to obtain a "significant collective participation, it was necessary to deepen the aspect of specific prevention and safety in such a way as to transform an extreme sport, or potentially at risk, into a" commonly practicable activity.
The safety and prevention of accidents in scuba diving are two aspects that must be part of the general attitude of the freediver himself; the rules and regulations of protection, both his own and that of others, can be grouped and described at length; but in the end accounts, if well rooted in daily practice, their implementation becomes a pleasant automatism.
First of all, it is our duty to thank all the diving apnea preparation and training schools for the very strong contribution they have given, are giving and will continue to give, in the expansion of the concept of safe apnea and conscious apnea; therefore, to interested readers I strongly recommend that you contact the nearest sports association and apply to attend a diving apnea course or to improve your free diving skills.
Safety and prevention in diving apnea
In "diving apnea, prevention means above all avoiding - but also knowing how to deal with - every unfortunate eventuality, and organizing oneself in the best possible way to be able to manage it effectively. The prevention of the freediver starts from the application of the basic rules for maintaining safety and for the reduction of the risk index, up to the programming of real emergency management plans. Let's go into more detail.
Prevention: state of health and safety
The freediver is an athlete and as such must behave; while not adhering to associations or competition circuits, even a simple spearfishing or "pure" freediver has the duty to keep himself constantly monitored by carrying out periodic psycho-fitness tests. physical to competitive sport; by doing so you would have the guarantee of possessing all the indispensable physical requirements, consequently reducing the possibility of illness during sports practice.
For the same reason, it is essential that the freediver takes care to maintain a constantly optimal state of nutrition and hydration, especially before activities that take him several hours a day. In this way, he can be sure that his physical conditions will allow to face even the most demanding situation in an optimal manner (such as the return from a sudden storm along the coast or the turn of the current on a shoal).
Prevention: couple system
The component that has the greatest impact on the possibility of a fatal injury is the presence or absence of a diving buddy. Especially for a freediver, being able to rely on a "sentinel" ready to help him in any situation represents a considerable safety guarantee. . To do this, it is essential to find a partner with whom it is possible to constantly share one's outings and who has at least the same level of athletic training; he must be able to descend to the same altitudes and know the basic principles for the recovery of the injured person in depth (at least 8-15m) with some notions of relative first aid. It goes without saying that he too must be constantly in optimal psychophysical conditions. By attending an underwater apnea course it is possible to acquire all the information necessary for the management of the couple system, including ASSISTANCE during diving; this behavior (very much in different disciplines) is frequently underestimated by beginners (especially fishermen), but it guarantees a very high level of safety even during prolonged apneas up to the limit of its performance limit.
Prevention: dive plan
Once the state of health, form and physical prowess of the couple of freedivers has been guaranteed, it is also essential to increase the level of general safety by planning each training or spearfishing trip. This aspect is particularly important in "free water diving performed in open water, where the variables are many and the chances of unusual circumstances occurring increase significantly. There is nothing more important than planning the entire trip (even through a quick briefing. ), communicating the correct opening and closing times, also specifying the meeting places (especially in the event that visual contact is lost) as well as the logistics of the nautical support and related equipment on board (signal flares, life jackets, first aid kit, communication systems, telephone numbers of the competent authorities, etc.) or of the parked car (possibly informing the companion (s) of the precise point of concealment of the vehicle keys). Last but not least, remember to inform someone (anyone) of their exit in open water; thus, in the worst case scenario (such as the failure of the vehicle autico or of the car concomitant with the malfunction of the means of communication), we will still have a good chance of being rescued in a relatively short time. By following these brief and simple rules it is possible to carry out an "entire outing in open water (which can last almost half a day), minimizing organizational and logistical complications.
Prevention: emergency management
An integrating part of the dive plan is undoubtedly the emergency management program; although the percentage of risk related to unpleasant events can be reduced to a minimum, the possibility of their occurrence cannot be ignored. In this regard, it is extremely important (especially in the management of large groups) to inform the teammate, or each individual member of the team, which ITER SHOULD be followed in the event of an injury; with regard to samba or black-out, it is generally sufficient to bring the unsafe person back to the surface and hit him with a few slaps on the face, or at least perform one or more mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose blows. In case of bruises or lacerations related to nautical accidents, sudden illness, syncope with cardiac arrest, injury at high altitudes, etc., the procedure to be followed is as follows:
- As soon as possible (possibly after the recovery of the unsafe person), if necessary, CALL THE AID !!!
- Verify that the situation is NOT potentially at risk even for us rescuers; for example, it would be inadvisable to try to retrieve a partner (perhaps entangled in a net) at an altitude well beyond our freediving potential (obviously, in spite of ourselves).
- If possible, recover the unsafe person by applying the concepts of underwater rescue / recovery (didactics of freediving courses) and transport to the nautical vessel or shore.
- Reached a full stop, if the authorities have already been notified, try first aid:
- in case of black-out through insufflation;
- in case of cardiac arrest perform a cardiac massage or apply the defibrillator together with the insufflation;
- in case of bleeding, try haemostasis with laces or cords, or by pressing on the laceration.
In the event of a black-out it is however advisable to apply the oxygen administration kit.
Obviously, to do all this it is essential to use some basic tools; among these, if the exit takes place in open water with the support of a nautical vessel, remember to bring:
- Summary sheet of all useful numbers (because in an emergency the brain does NOT think clearly)
- Multiple communication systems: VHF, cell phone, spare cell phone
- GPS for precise point communication
- First aid kit and oxygen administration kit
- Defibrillator, BUT ONLY if trained to use it making sure the floor is dry and there is enough space
- At least ONE thermal blanket
- Scissors to cut the diving suit
- On-board equipment for reporting the failure
- Plenty of drinking water
Prevention is an essential component to minimize the risks of scuba diving by significantly increasing the level of general safety. By following these few rules it is possible to enjoy a sport that is absolutely unique in its kind and contribute to its dissemination and expansion.
