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I went delete crazy trying to clean up my mailboxes so I lost the original question but I thought it was good that someone figured this list might be a place to get some info about dealing with the Rescue of an O2 hit victim. I think the question expressed a concern over approaching and handling the victim during a seizure. My comments here reflect my research as I have not ever dealt with an actual case but here are some considerations. In the initial phase of the O2 seizure the body will become rigid along with little or no breathing and a loss of consciousness. Than the convulsions run their course, normally not more than a few minutes followed by a slow recovery normally with a spontaneous restart of breathing. If the regulator remains in the mouth through the initial stages most definatly hold it in place because when the victim begins his recovery he is not with it and will drop the regulator, also the first action in the recovery phase is often a big inhalation. It may take a lot of time for the diver to become conscious and subsequently aware but with a mask on and a regulator held in place he should be able to breath throughout his slow resumption of awareness. As far as handling the convulsing diver, it is common to believe (thanks to Hollywood) that convulsions are extremely violent and your chance of injury as a rescuer is high. The truth is that convulsions are not "full travel" muscle spasms with violence they are in fact mostly very small to medium movements that are somewhat rhythmic, not flailing about, and there is no grabbing or hitting, as stated by someone else the panicked diver is a far greater hazard to the rescuer. You can get close and personal with the victim and manipulate him into the position you chose to use to carry out the rescue while holding his regulator in his mouth. Do not ascend initially, his throat is not likely open during the seizure and an accent could have the same effect as holding his breath. Once in the recovery phase (when the convulsions have stopped) start your rescue accent. If the regulator is not already in his mouth you will not be able to put it in place during the seizure because his teeth will be clenched in most cases, however immediately following the cessation of the convulsions he may relax, briefly, prior to breathing, if you could get the regulator into his mouth (purge) at this moment it may work out. If he chokes when he begins breathing, hold the regulator in his mouth obviously. Decompression considerations will be different in each case so I will not comment, I think G covered that anyway. If you come across the victim and he is already full of water and unconscious that is a more typical rescue of an unconscious diver which I do not think was the original question. A few last thoughts, he may bite his tongue further complicating your efforts and a practice rescue accent from a deep dive is required, as the typical Rescue Diver courses I've seen generally are done in shallow water and doing a rescue accent from a deep dive is a handful especially if you are both in drysuits with stage bottles and other gear. I welcome comments from others with more experience and will withstand the inevitable flaming (and will probably learn something) but do sympathize with the original questioner. It is very difficult to get good training in all aspects of diving especially in "tech" diving and in each geographic area there will be specific limitations to getting good training, no matter how hard we try. I've got my Nomex on. Nick Seemel PS: After writing this I am tempted to take up solo diving a la JimH
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