Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies & Automated External Defibrillators for Aquatic Emergencies are taught at a set.

Introduction | Overview | Course Details

Introduction to Automated External Defibrillators for Aquatic Emergencies

This course represents entry-level training designed to educate the general diving (and qualified non-diving) public to better recognize the warning signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and administer first aid using Basic Life Support techniques and Automated External Defibrillators while activating the local emergency medical services, (EMS) and / or arranging for evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility.

• In the United States, sudden cardiac arrest claims more than 225,000 to 250,000 lives a year, according to the American Heart Association.
• Ninety three percent of the people involved in a submersion incident die from cardiac arrest.

Most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation. There are several causes of ventricular fibrillation including:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Drowning
• Hypothermia
• Electrical shock

The only definitive treatment for ventricular fibrillation is defibrillation. This course teaches lay-providers to use an automated external defibrillator to defibrillate a fibrillating heart and restore a normal rhythm.

Overview to Automated External Defibrillators for Aquatic Emergencies

Course Objective
This course, DAN Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Aquatic Emergencies, represents entry-level training designed to educate the general public to better recognize the warning signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and administer first aid using Basic Life Support techniques and Automated External Defibrillators while activating the local emergency medical services (EMS) and / or arranging for evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility.

Recommended Minimum Hours of Training
Knowledge Development (Lecture) = 1 Hour
Skills Development (Practice) = 2-3 Hours

It is recommended that this course be taught as a three to four-hour module. The time the course actually takes to teach varies depending upon many factors, including the number of students and their ability to process the educational components of the program. Instructors desiring to include subjects or training beyond the course requirements may do so only before or following the course. Any additional training must not be required for completion of course requirements.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this program, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Aquatic Emergencies course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.
• Provide Basic Life Support while setting up the automated external defibrillator.
• Provide basic life support with an AED.
• Care for and maintain an AED.

This course does not provide training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or water rescue. The training exercises of this course presuppose that the ill or injured person is already out of the water.

Participants will complete the written course assessment. Each student must pass the examination with a score of at least 80 percent, but the instructor should review the written assessment with all participants to ensure 100 percent understanding of the material.

Skill Performance Objectives
To successfully complete the Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Aquatic Emergencies course, participants must demonstrate skill and confidence in:

• Providing Basic Life Support.
• Securing and setting up the Automated External Defibrillator.
• Providing care with an Automated External Defibrillator.

Introduction | Overview | Course Details

Introduction to Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies

Every year more than 4,000 Americans die from drowning and many more suffer from near-drowning events.

According to the 1998 National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) Annual Sports Participation Survey, 58.2 million Americans participated more than once in swimming during the year. The same study identified nearly 30 million people who participated in power boating, sailing, kayaking, rafting or canoeing.

When swimmers and boaters have near-drowning accidents, water in their lungs keeps their lungs from working properly and they don't get an adequate amount of oxygen. This may cause secondary drowning; victims appear to survive an incident only to die at home a few hours later. Administering 100 percent oxygen first aid immediately after an accident improves the victim's survival chances.

For nearly a decade, DAN has preached the benefits of providing oxygen to injured scuba divers. During that time more than 80,000 people worldwide have been trained in this first aid skill. In March of 1999, DAN Services, Inc., a wholly owned for-profit subsidiary of Divers Alert Network, launched the Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies (Aquatics) program. Its goal is to extend the life-saving skills of oxygen first aid to people who live and play in and around water. Providing high concentrations of oxygen to near-drowning victims in the first few minutes after rescue can prevent serious or even fatal complications.

Overview to Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies

Course Objective
This course, Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies, or Aquatic Oxygen Provider, represents training designed to educate the public to recognize possible aquatic related injuries and to provide emergency oxygen first aid while activating the local emergency medical services (EMS) and / or arranging for evacuation to the nearest medical facility.

Recommended Minimum Hours of Training
Knowledge Development: The Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies Student Handbook and video are designed for student self-study. If an Instructor elects to present the knowledge development section as a lecture, it is strongly recommended that the video and training slides be used to supplement the lecture.

Self-Study: 2 Hours
Lecture: 1 Hour
Skills Development: 3 Hours

It is recommended that this course be taught as a four-hour module. The time it actually takes to teach the course varies depending upon many factors including the number of students and their ability to master the information and skills. Instructors desiring to include subjects or training beyond the course requirements may do so only before or following the course. Any additional training must not be required for completion of course requirements.

Learning Objectives
Participants must demonstrate mastery of the following objectives to successfully complete the course:

• Describe the role and function of the cardiac and respiratory systems in the human body.
• Identify and describe the major causes of aquatic accidents.
• Describe the mechanisms of drowning.
• Describe the benefits to the victim of using oxygen first aid.

Skill Performance Objectives
Participants must demonstrate mastery of the following objectives to successfully complete the course:

• Demonstrate the set up and use of the emergency oxygen equipment used in this course.
• Demonstrate rescue breathing and one-rescuer CPR.
• Identify the indications for supplemental oxygen first aid use.
• Demonstrate the first aid response of a non-breathing swimmer with a pulse.
• Demonstrate the first aid response for a non-breathing swimmer with no pulse.
• Demonstrate the first aid response for a breathing swimmer.
• Demonstrate the first aid response for a swimmer who stops breathing during care.

Course Details for Oxygen First Aid for Aquatic Emergencies & Automated External Defibrillators for Aquatic Emergencies

Need More Information?

• Course will take 3 hours to complete
• Course fee will be $140
• Questions regarding course content and registration may be directed to: Glen Faith (618-658-3811)