RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to develop a standard process and checklist for technical investigation of hookah diving equipment and apply it to Tasmanian hookah fatality investigations from the last 25 years. METHODS: A literature search was undertaken to identify technical reports and equipment investigations associated with diving accidents. The information was assimilated to create a process and checklist for specifically assessing the hookah apparatus. The checklist was then applied in a gap analysis of Tasmanian hookah diving fatality technical reports from 1995 to 2019. RESULTS: As no papers specifically describing technical evaluation of hookah equipment were identified, references evaluating scuba equipment were used to create a hookah technical assessment process incorporating unique features of the hookah. Features included: owner responsibility for air quality; maintenance, function; exhaust proximity to air intake; reservoir volume; output non-return valves; line pressure; sufficiency of supply; entanglement; hose severance risk; gas supply failure and hosing attachment to the diver. Seven hookah diving deaths occurred in Tasmania (1995-2019) of which three had documented technical assessment. Gap analysis identified inconsistent structure between reports with variability in the case descriptors. Missing technical data included: overview of the hookah systems; accessories; weights; how the apparatus was worn by the diver; compressor suitability; assessment of hookah function; breathing gas output and exhaust position relative to air intake. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a need to standardise technical reporting of hookah equipment after diving accidents. The checklist generated may serve as a resource for future hookah assessments and inform strategies for preventing future hookah accidents.
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Buceo , Pipas de Agua , Humanos , Causas de Muerte , Accidentes , TasmaniaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review of known diving-related deaths that occurred in Australia in 2012 was conducted. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using statements from witnesses and reports of the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and details from the post-mortem examination, where available, are provided. RESULTS: There were 26 reported fatalities (four less than the previous year). Only two of the victims were female (one snorkeller and one scuba diver). Fourteen deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, 11 while scuba diving and one diver died while using surface supplied breathing apparatus in a commercial pearl diving setting. Two breath-hold divers likely drowned as a result of apnoeic hypoxia. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have contributed to the deaths of at least three and possibly seven snorkellers and four scuba divers. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-existing medical conditions; poor organisation, planning and supervision; equipment-related problems; snorkelling or diving alone or with loose buddy oversight and apnoeic hypoxia were features in several deaths in this series.
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Causas de Muerte , Buceo , Ahogamiento , Adulto , Anciano , Asfixia/mortalidad , Australia , Mordeduras y Picaduras/mortalidad , Ahogamiento/mortalidad , Femenino , Cardiopatías/mortalidad , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review of diving-related deaths reported as occurring in Australia in 2011 was conducted as part of the DAN Asia-Pacific dive fatality reporting project. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using reports from witnesses, the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and, where available, details from the post-mortem examination are provided. A chain of events analysis was conducted for each case. RESULTS: In total, there were 30 reported fatalities (10 more than in 2010). These included 15 snorkel/breath-hold divers, 14 scuba divers and one diver using surface-supplied breathing apparatus. Twenty-four victims were males. The mean age of snorkelling victims was 49.6 (range 23-75) years and compressed gas divers 42.2 (range 23-55) years. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have been the disabling injury in the deaths of at least seven snorkel divers and five scuba divers. Immersion pulmonary oedema was implicated in at least one death; and three fatalities resulted from attacks by marine animals. Two novices died while under instruction/supervision after separation from their instructor in poor visibility. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-existing medical conditions, separation and inadequate supervision and seafood collection in areas frequented by marine predators were once again features in several deaths in this series.
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Autopsia , Causas de Muerte , Buceo/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Anciano , Caimanes y Cocodrilos , Animales , Australia/epidemiología , Mordeduras y Picaduras/mortalidad , Contencion de la Respiración , Recolección de Datos/métodos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Resucitación/métodos , Resucitación/normas , Distribución por Sexo , Tiburones , Viaje/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review was conducted of known diving-related deaths that occurred in Australia in 2010. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using statements from witnesses and reports of the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and details from the post-mortem examination, where available, are provided. A root cause analysis was made for each case. RESULTS: There were 20 reported fatalities, one less than the previous year. Five of the victims were female (four scuba divers) and 15 were males. Twelve deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, seven while scuba diving (one of whom was using a rebreather), and one diver died while using surface supplied breathing apparatus. At least two breath-hold divers likely drowned as a result of apnoeic hypoxia. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have contributed to the deaths of at least three and possibly five snorkellers, and of at least one, possibly two compressed gas divers. CONCLUSIONS: Snorkelling or diving alone, poor supervision, apnoeic hypoxia, pre-existing medical conditions, lack of recent experience and unfamiliar and/or poorly-functioning equipment were features in several deaths in this series. Reducing delays to CT-scanning and autopsy and coroners' reports documenting that the victim of a drowning was snorkelling or scuba diving at the time are aspects of the investigation of these fatalities that could be improved.
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Causas de Muerte , Buceo/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Anciano , Australia/epidemiología , Autopsia , Contencion de la Respiración , Ahogamiento/mortalidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Distribución por Sexo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Tasmania's aquaculture industry produces over 40,000 tonnes of fish annually, valued at over AUD500M. Aquaculture divers perform repetitive, short-duration bounce dives in fish pens to depths up to 21 metres' sea water (msw). Past high levels of decompression illness (DCI) may have resulted from these 'yo-yo' dives. This study aimed to assess working divers, using Doppler ultrasonic bubble detection, to determine if yo-yo diving was a risk factor for DCI, determine dive profiles with acceptable risk and investigate productivity improvement. METHODS: Field data were collected from working divers during bounce diving at marine farms near Hobart, Australia. Ascent rates were less than 18 m·min⻹, with routine safety stops (3 min at 3 msw) during the final ascent. The Kisman-Masurel method was used to grade bubbling post dive as a means of assessing decompression stress. In accordance with Defence Research and Development Canada Toronto practice, dives were rejected as excessive risk if more than 50% of scores were over Grade 2. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2008, Doppler data were collected from 150 bounce-dive series (55 divers, 1,110 bounces). Three series of bounce profiles, characterized by in-water times, were validated: 13-15 msw, 10 bounces inside 75 min; 16-18 msw, six bounces inside 50 min; and 19-21 msw, four bounces inside 35 min. All had median bubble grades of 0. Further evaluation validated two successive series of bounces. Bubble grades were consistent with low-stress dive profiles. Bubble grades did not correlate with the number of bounces, but did correlate with ascent rate and in-water time. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest bounce diving was not a major factor causing DCI in Tasmanian aquaculture divers. Analysis of field data has improved industry productivity by increasing the permissible number of bounces, compared to earlier empirically-derived tables, without compromising safety. The recommended Tasmanian Bounce Diving Tables provide guidance for bounce diving to a depth of 21 msw, and two successive bounce dive series in a day's diving.
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Acuicultura , Enfermedad de Descompresión/diagnóstico por imagen , Buceo/efectos adversos , Eficiencia , Enfermedades Profesionales/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad de Descompresión/etiología , Buceo/fisiología , Humanos , Enfermedades Profesionales/etiología , Estudios Prospectivos , Agua de Mar , Tasmania , Factores de Tiempo , UltrasonografíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review of diving-related deaths, reported as occurring in Australia in 2008, was conducted as part of the DAN Asia-Pacific dive fatality reporting project. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using reports from witnesses, the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and details from the post-mortem examination, where available, are provided. RESULTS: In total, there were 19 reported fatalities (the same as for 2007), 17 involving males. Twelve deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving,and six while scuba diving. One diver died while using surface-supply breathing apparatus. Two breath-hold divers appear to have died as a result of apnoeic hypoxia, at least one case likely associated with hyperventilation. Two deaths resulted from trauma: one from impact with a boat and the other from an encounter with a great white shark. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have contributed to the deaths of five snorkellers and at least two, possibly three, scuba divers. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma from a marine creature, snorkelling or diving alone, apnoeic hypoxia and pre-existing medical conditions were once again features in several deaths in this series.
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Causas de Muerte , Buceo/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Animales , Asfixia/mortalidad , Australia/epidemiología , Autopsia , Mordeduras y Picaduras/mortalidad , Traumatismos Craneocerebrales/mortalidad , Ahogamiento/mortalidad , Femenino , Cardiopatías/mortalidad , Humanos , Embolia Intracraneal/mortalidad , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tiburones , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: An individual case review of diving-related deaths reported as occurring in Australia in 2009 was conducted as part of the DAN Asia-Pacific Dive Fatality Reporting Project. METHOD: The case studies were compiled using reports from witnesses, the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and details from the post-mortem examination, where available, are provided. RESULTS: In total, there were 21 reported fatalities (two more than in 2008), including 18 males and three females. Twelve deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, eight while scuba diving and one while using surface-supply breathing apparatus. Apneic hypoxia continues to be a problem with breath-hold divers and appears to have caused the death of three victims in this series. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have been the disabling injury in the deaths of at least three snorkel divers and at least three scuba divers. One of the victims was a student who became separated from her instructor on an introductory scuba dive in poor visibility. CONCLUSIONS: Apneic hypoxia, pre-existing medical conditions, snorkelling or diving alone, separation and inadequate supervision were once again features in several deaths in this series.