Several local tour guides from San Pedro participated in a Dive safety Seminar on Monday, February 9th at the Isla Bonita Yacht Club conference room. The seminar is part of a dive accident prevention campaign being carried out by Sub-aquatics of Belize Limited via the Hyperbaric Chamber Clinic. Participants received vital knowledge on Decompression Illness (DCI) from two members of the International Sub-aquatics Safety Services (SSS) Chamber Network: Paul Cunliffe, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, and Netzahualcoyotl Segundo, Emergency Medical System (EMS) Dive Medical Technician (DMT).
The seminar included information on how tour guides should deal with dive accidents, including the signs of DCI and how to provide first aid to affected divers. “This a part of our service to the community and the chamber, as it is a soft session on dive accidents management training. The seminar will improve awareness and safety in diving. We will highlight the services that are provided by the chamber. It’s important that all tour guides are aware of the general information involved in DCI to ensure that immediate treatment is given. Simple steps can be taken before the diver is taken to the chamber to ensure he/she makes a full recovery,” said Cunliffe.
Cunliffe stated that the network’s objective is to increase awareness in popular dive destinations to prevent DCI. Throughout the seminar, tour guides received a guide on how to adequately identify DCI, respond to the situation, and report the situation to the chamber. “If the chamber is properly informed on the situation then they can take preemptive measures to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to treat the patient properly. A diver that makes a full recovery can go back to diving within a couple of weeks normally,” said Cunliffe.
SSS Chamber Network operates in all major diving destinations across the world and while DCI does not affect everyone, there is always a possibility you can be affected once you go diving. Due to the increase of diving tourism, the network hopes these types of training offered to tour guides will reduce diving accidents. “To dive is a very energetic and fun sport. To decrease the chances of DCI you just need to be healthy and keep hydrated. Tour guides should keep a sharp eye on their customers at all times. Its better to prevent with knowledge,” said Segundo.
The Hyperbaric Chamber Clinic is located right across the San Pedro Airstrip opposite to Maya Island Air on Lion Street. The clinic can be contacted via telephone number 226-2851, 226-3195 or email at [email protected] from Monday to Sunday between the hours of 9AM to 6PM. For emergencies contact 226-2851 at any time of day.
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