Calls to DAN Asia-Pacific for Help : Q4 2017

Every week DAN Asia-Pacific receives calls for help from Members, and non-Members, from destinations all over the world and for a whole plethora of reasons, not all of which are diving-related. So commencing in January 2018, we will start sharing very brief details of calls received on a regular basis.

Some of the calls will go on to feature as case studies or incident insight pieces but the purpose here will just be to share the basic nature of the calls that DAN AP receives. You might be surprised by the frequency, breadth of location and the reason for the calls.

Below are the brief details for calls received from 1 October to 8 December 2017.

December

• A 66 year old woman on a liveaboard in the Solomon Islands experienced symptoms very likely indicating DCI: Vertigo and vomiting post-dive. A helicopter was arranged to transfer the member to where she underwent recompression.
• A dive instructor in the Philippines experienced numbness and tingling post-dive but dived again and symptoms worsened. He did not breathe oxygen when symptoms appeared on either occasion and as a result was required to undergo recompression.

November

• A 58 year old diver called DAN with a suspected ruptured eardrum while diving in Mexico. She was referred to an Ear Nose and Throat specialist confirming the rupture.
• A 29 year old male in Sorong, West Papua experienced symptoms that were likely to be DCI. He presented at a clinic where he breathed oxygen and received IV fluids and his symptoms improved. DAN looked at a plan to evacuate the diver to Bali for treatment, but this wasn’t required as the symptoms alleviated and did not return after breathing oxygen for several hours.
• A local diver in Batangas, Philippines had a numb hand and tingling in fingertips post-dive. He ignored the symptoms that day but as the symptoms persisted he presented the next day at the Chamber where he received recompression.
• A 54 year old German diver (Member of DAN Europe) was diving in Raja Ampat. She had previously experienced DCI and been diagnosed with a PFO (hole in the heart). She had pain and weakness down one side after completing three dives in one day. She was put on oxygen and her symptoms improved; however she did not agree to any further management.

October

• A diver in Bali exhibited mild symptoms post-dive so contacted DAN for advice as the diver was planning to fly to Mongolia for work in the coming days.  He was directed to hospital and received oxygen overnight. Chamber treatment was not deemed necessary the next day as the diver had recovered well. The diver was advised to call DAN if symptoms worsened after flying, which did not occur.
• A diver in Malaysia experienced a serious DCI hit, she was intubated and ventilated and evacuated to Singapore where she underwent multiple recompression treatments. NOTE: This incident will feature in a Case Study in early 2018.
• A DAN AP Member in the Philippines was admitted to hospital after it was found she had pneumonia.
• A diver in Australia called a week after a dive in which he experienced some mild symptoms. At this time, it was determined he did not require medical attention.
• A diver in the Philippines experienced a pink rash and some numbness in both knees following three fairly unprovocative dives. She was told to commence breathing oxygen and DAN re-evaluated her after three hours. The diver improved and was not required to undergo recompression, but she was encouraged to continue breathing oxygen for several more hours.
• A diver on a boat in Palau conducted a quick ascent and experienced a number of symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath and vomiting. These could have indicated a pulmonary barotrauma or been cardiac-related. The diver presented at a local hospital for evaluation, where it was determined he had suffered from a heart attack and was kept in hospital to be monitored. The member underwent surgery for a coronary angiogram and angioplasty and is recovering well.

A Reminder: If you need to contact DAN for help in the event of a diving incident please call the DAN DES Emergency Hotline on 1800-088 200 (toll free within Australia) or +61-8-8212 9242 (from outside Australia). For the full list of Emergency Hotline Numbers CLICK HERE.

All divers can call DAN for help, however we can only co-ordinate an emergency evacuation and treatment; and cover associated costs for current Members within the limits of their coverage option.

Not yet a DAN AP Member? Join Today.

Author: DAN World

DAN® is the world’s leading dive safety association. View all posts by DAN World