DIVING INCIDENTS DROP TO LOWEST LEVEL IN TWO DECADES

The number of diving incidents has fallen to its lowest level in 21 years, according to the latest figures from the Coastguard.

There were 136 incidents in 2013, which included 10 fatalities.

The most common incident was decompression illness, with 44 cases recorded last year. A further 21 incidents were down to rapid ascent, which is likely to have developed into decompression illness.

Other calls in 2013 included lost and / or missing divers, broken down vessels and divers with other medical problems.

Now with the Easter holidays approaching, divers are once again being reminded of essential safety advice.

Ken Bazeley, the Coastguard’s National Diving Liaison Officer, said:

“The number of diving incidents has fallen to their lowest level since 1992, but still last year we saw 10 diving fatalities. We will continue to strive for a reduction in fatalities and serious injury.

“The key message for divers is to remember to make a slow ascent, perform a safety stop and have sufficient air / gas for the dive, with enough in reserve.

“We hope divers make use of the upcoming Easter break to get out and explore the rich marine life around our coasts, but please dive within your limits.”

Decompression illness is when bubbles form in the blood or body tissue, and it can be fatal. It often occurs when divers surface too quickly, and symptoms include dizziness, blurring of vision, numbness and shortness of breath.

Annual figures:

• 2010: 230 incidents, 11 fatalities
• 2011: 196 incidents, 14 fatalities
• 2012: 177 incidents, 16 fatalities
• 2013: 136 incidents, 10 fatalities

These statistics relate to only those in which HM Coastguard coordinated the search for and rescue of those involved. National diving statistics including both open water and inland diving together with detailed analysis, are available from the BSAC (www.bsac.com), which is the national governing body for UK sport diving.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is a member of the British Diving Safety Group which formed in 2002. Members promote safety and growth in the sport, providing guidance and the opportunity to enjoy the wider benefits of club and society membership.

Popular posts from this blog

Label your kit at the coast

Image
Kayaks. Canoes. Paddleboards. What do they all have in common? They’re quite often found on the coastline or drifting out to sea. And if we don’t know who they belong to, we can spend time searching for an owner when they’re home safe and sound. So please help us to help you. Label your kit so that if you do get separated from it, and it turns up somewhere, we can get hold of you. In recent weeks, our Coastguard Rescue Teams have found numerous items such as kayaks and canoes drifting out at sea or abandoned near the shoreline. Unfortunately, some of the items we have found have not had their owners’ contact details written on them nor been reported as missing to the Coastguard. As a result, it makes it difficult for us to find out who it belongs to and also means we can never be completely sure if someone is safe or in the worst case, in trouble at sea. This can place a huge strain on our resources especially during the busy summer period when we have to call upon our Coastgua
Read more

A short history of HM Coastguard

Image
Today HM Coastguard is a world leader in maritime search and rescue. Looking back almost 200 years, the goods, which now travel by road, were carried by hundreds of small ships. Year in year out dozens of ships and hundreds of lives were lost within sight of the coast. Public shock and dismay at the tragedies drove forward the creation of national life saving organisations. Though it’s beginnings lie in those decades HM Coastguard originated not to meet the dangers of the seas but to combat a threat to the country’s economy and security – smuggling. As soon as medieval taxes were charged on imports and exports, people began smuggling. By 1743 th e estimate was that half the tea drunk in Britain was illegally imported and shows that smuggling was highly profitable. Smugglers have often been romanticised but the reality was brutal. Local people lived in fear, with violent reprisals on informers and the murder of revenue officers, while corruption enabled smugglers to evade harsh p
Read more

Emergency Radio Procedures: Does your fishing crew know what to do?

Image
DSC emergency radio procedures                                                              Picture: Planefocus Fitting a Digital Selective Calling radio on your vessel and knowing how to use it in an emergency could save your life.   If the worst were to happen at sea, using a DSC radio correctly can save vital time in getting those in trouble back to the shore.   Calling HM Coastguard with DSC in an emergency significantly helps in locating an incident and providing that help.      Most fixed VHF radios come with built-in DSC, meaning the Coastguard can be called easily and fast.   Assistant Chief Coastguard Matt Leat said:  “DSC means information is sent quickly and clearly so a rescue can begin right away. As well as having a registered personal locator beacon (PLB) per crew member on board, with DSC you’ll be assisting the Coastguard in locating you much faster.   “No one wants to be in an emergency situation and have to use DSC or a PLB, but that does not mean your vessel sho
Read more