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While I was a member of a Diving Safety Board at a university a few years
ago. the issue of the legality of administering pure oxygen (in Florida) to
a diver with injury (bends or embolism) by an uncertified individual (e.g.
not a paramedic) was brought up. My opinion was simple - I don't care as
long as it is not done using forced ventilation. However the Diving Officer
went off to the insurance company and their lawyers, and the following
response was returned. We (the insurance company) believe the hazards of
administering pure oxygen to a diver with illness is greater than the
potential hazards of getting the bends or embolizing with dives of 100ft or
shallower (the university limited dives to 100ft or shallower). Therefore
you (the university) should not require and use O2 on site during diving
operations for a diving emergency. 

If the subject was not serious, the letter from the insurance company would
have been considered a joke. We need to be careful what these lawyers and
experts feed us because in most cases they don't have the slightest clue.

Think about it the next time a lawyer gives you advice,

Doug Chapman

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