DAN-Divers Alert Network

[richhermes]

www.diversalertnetwork.org

Who belongs? Any personal experience actually using any of their services or benefits?

Any comments welcome.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/images/top_a.gif

[Steel Shootin']

Yes, I belong, but fortunately have not needed their services. I have not heard anything bad about them, and I like the fact of just knowing that they're there if I need them (not to mention the coverage for expenses).

[richhermes]

What surprised me is that they will NOT tell you where the nearest deco chamber is. After reading their explanation, I can understand why.

[Steel Shootin']

I wasn't aware of that. What's the explanation?

[Spear One]

Hell yes. I have been a member since 1985. Don't leave home without it!

I was in the chamber twice in 1998. Thought I was bent , but I wasn't. They paid 100% costs and I never had any billing squabbles with anyone.

Buy only the best premium package! You want the best coverage. Even if you have your own insurance, Dan will pay whatever you insurance doesn't cover.

In my humble opinion, any diver who doesn't have Dan insurance:

"ain't draggin a full stringer"

[richhermes]

Here ya go, Scott.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/chamberlocations.asp

Recompression Chamber Locations

Why DAN Doesn't Provide Chamber Location Information

DAN frequently consults on the care, transport and hyperbaric treatment of injured divers, but does not provide chamber location information. This is an effort to get divers with a suspected Decompression Illness into hospital care. In the past, divers would often drive past legitimate healthcare facilities to get to a recompression chamber. Even when divers surface with clear symptoms of an arterial gas embolism, the treatment of choice is the local emergency service and hospital. Your best option is to use existing emergency services for an injured diver.

The reasons:

Hospitals and urgent care facilities have an unlimited supply of oxygen, intravenous fluids and medications.
A physician/emergency care provider needs to rule out other illness such as pneumothorax (collapsed lung), myocardial infarction (heart attack), and neurological and musculoskeletal injuries with symptoms similar to DCI.
An injured patient needs to be stabilized before and during transport, and should be transferred under medical supervision.
Transporting a diver without a proper evaluation may adversely affect the diver's health and treatment outcome.
A chamber's operational status can change. Chambers may close for scheduled maintenance, staff vacation, or a limited staff because of a high daytime patient treatment load. The chamber you are driving to may not be available. Prior notification from an evaluating facility is usually necessary to begin the call-in procedure to staff a hyperbaric treatment. Finally, most hyperbaric facilities have regular daytime business hours and are not staffed in the evenings and on weekends. In fact, some chamber facilities choose not to staff their unit after hours and do not wish to treat divers. Most cases of decompression sickness report for evaluation after normal business hours.
If you suspect a diver has a dive-related injury and needs evaluation, you should safely:

Monitor Airway, Breathing, Circulation ? Provide 100 percent oxygen if you are a trained oxygen provider
Call the local EMS for transport or assist in the transport of the injured diver to medical care
Call the DAN Emergency number 919 684 8111 or 919 684 4DAN (4326) collect for consult and advice.

[Steel Shootin']

Thanks for that posting that, Rich. That is interesting, however, if I'm conscious, and if there is oxygen, I'm bypassing hosptials and going to the one with the chamber. Is it Tampa General or St. Josephs here locally????

[richhermes]

Actually, I know that the deco chamber at St. Joe's is only open M-F, 9 to 5. You would have to be airlifted to Orlando if you needed a chamber outside these hours.

Don't ask me how I know this!!

[Diver Dan]

Scott, Even if you have oxygen, call your local EMS, especially around here. There are alot of medics around who dive and are very familiar with what can happen while diving. Myself being one. A definitive diagnosis is extremely critical to being able to treat what is wrong effectively. Always give O2, it never hurts, but get with medical professionals as soon as possible. IV fluids are critical, and there are a variety of medications that are also useful in treatment. I have taken a chamber course and am certified to work in one, so I do have some backround. As in spear-one's case it may not be what you think! You have anymore questions feel free to ask, and oh yes I've been a member for 15 years.

[Steel Shootin']

Hey, Dan. What agency do you work for? I was a Paramedic-Firefighter with Pasco County Fire Rescue for seven years. I am still involved with the Paramedic program, and do an annual lecture for paramedic students at PHCC.

Having that background, you can rest assured that I am very safety conscious. I have a jump bag on board my boat that would rival the one you carry on your rescue truck, complete with a trauma kit, O2, ambu, and a variety of cannulas and masks. Your point is well taken, and, yes, if you have the symptoms of DCS, you should call EMS immediately. I didn't mean to suggest otherwise, and can see where my earlier remarks may not have been well stated.

Scott

[MarkD]

Thanks for the discussion guys. I did not have insurance and with a trip planned to the Bahamas next month it was on my list of things to do. I just went online and signed up with DAN.

Thanks for the push, Mark

[Diver Dan]

Very cool Scott! I work for Madeira Beach Fire Rescue. Been there 19 years and been a medic since '86. Guess I was preaching to the choir! I took the chamber course down in Miami. I was in charge of the dive team at work until it was disbanded 3 years ago. I bet you know my Chief Derryl O'Neal and his District Chief wife Cindy. Glad to hear you have such a nice kit on board. We'll have to get together, sling some steel and tell war stories! This forum is getting better all the time! Stay safe. Dan

[Steel Shootin']

Dan, sounds good. I'll shoot you an email in the near future and we'll plan a trip. I imagine with your 24/48, you may be able to get out on some weekdays. Say Hi to Daryl, haven't seen him in years.

Scott

[Diver Dan]

Sounds good Scott, Yes I definitely am able to get out during the week. It would be nice, because I much prefer to go out during the week and miss all the weekend warriors. Sometimes this means I dive alone. No big deal, 'cause even when I dive with my buddies we ususally only bump into each other once or twice during the dive. Looking forward to your e-mail. My boat is small and good for short trips, not capable of the trips your boat can do. If you have room when you take spear-one and his coveted "black book" I'd be happy as the proverbial "pig in shit" to go! He knows me I don't think he'd mind. Oh by the way, my wife stays on the boat when I dive alone, I'm not that crazy! Stay safe. Dan

[johnhermes]

Hmmm, lets see, me in the ocean alone, my wife in the boat alone....I am well insured.... Hmmm......

She goes in the water when I go, or at least the keys dive with me. ;)

[Reef Raider]

I got it had to use it once better safe than sorry. I did a navy dive table 6A that was 165ft on tri mix lasted 4 hr+30 min. Did the dive at ST JOES waited 10 hrs to get in the chamber by that time the pain was all but gone they never even gave me o2 till 30mins before the dive started . There is a chamber in Gainsville too. That guy who died in the ST Pete open died in the chamber at ST JOES.

[Diver Dan]

I wouldn't knock St. Joes too bad, I don't think from what I heard, that there was anything they could have done except notify next of kin. Besides hopefully they didn't see your post!

[Reef Raider]

You are right about the other guy but they tried .They told me the story about what happen that day while I was in thier chamber. After that I told them to wake me up when it was over .
If I was knocking ST JOES I would have said the place is a ****ing shit hole that I would not send my dog to die in. I have been to my share of ERs for a lot of things if I had to rate ST JOES I would give them a 7 would I go back there SURE! Do I want to HELL NO!
The thing about the 02 is they will some times not give it to you because it can at times mask the symptons.
Hope that squares things with ST JOES!!

[Diver Dan]

Hey RR, I'm not saying anything bad, there is only so much that can be done. 02 is something that should be given to everyone always, except in pediatrics in certain cicumstances, always look out for u and yours, if I can help let me know. Dan

[Reef Raider]

Lucky for me it was only a sport type injury to my foot its fine now
and never gives me a problem while I dive. As for the 02 thing you can take it up with DAN they are my source of info.
I know Jack Shit hes a good friend of mine!

[Diver Dan]

I know what you mean RR Jack-Shit is a good friend of mine also!

[Reef Raider]

We'll have to get together and have a beer with him some day!!
Any one else know Jack Shit ?
****-N A ****-N B you have to love this place !!!!!!