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Tom Mount wrote: >This is the drill that I refer to from the IANTD Trimix diver standards > >10. Simulate a rescue of a diver, tow the diver on the surface for >a distance of at least 40 feet (12 meters) while simulating mouth to mouth >resuscitation. Go through EMS procedures and remove >equipment from victim in the water (equipment removal must be accomplished >in less than 1 � minutes, ). Repeat until proficient. >So any student that can do this may stay in continuous webbing, they can >even practice it and then do it. My experience is it is rare that it is >completed. Tom, this makes no sense. The drill in question is to remove the VICTIM's equipment in 1 1/2 minutes. What does that have to do with what the RESCUE diver is wearing? The drill says nothing about the RESCUE diver also removing his gear. For what it's worth, I do almost ALL my diving off small private boats in Alaska. After EVERY dive we ALWAYS remove our rigs and clip them off to gear lines before climbing aboard the boat. I've done this maybe 250 times in every type of sea and weather conditions since converting to a one-piece DIR harness about 3 years ago, and I've never once had any difficulty: (1) Pop the drysuit inflator, (2) unclip the waist belt, (3) pull the crotch strap off the waist belt, and (4) reach back with both hands, grab the manifold and pull the rig over your head while leaning forward in the water. I've never actually timed myself but if it took me 40 seconds to do that I would quit diving and shoot myself. FYI, The trick is to do this while still relatively neutral. The over-the-head gear doff is much more difficult when you're bobbing like a top with the drysuit and wing inflated tight with air. If the shoulder straps are properly sized and not too tight then it's also easy enough to shed your rig arm by arm by reaching one hand down through the shoulder strap and shrugging your shoulder out and then repeating with the other shoulder. I suppose this would be the technique if you are trying to stabilize a diver at the same time. This technique is actually no different from what I learned in my very first BC 12 years ago--a ScubaPro Classic. In fact, I did that very same rescue drill wearing a ScubaPro Classic in the NAUI rescue diver class years ago. The old ScubaPro Classic BCs are one-piece units with no quick releases and they are used by [quote] dive professionals [endquote] worldwide. I never heard anyone say that the old ScubaPro Classic is unsafe because it has no quick release. In fact, I think they still sell them. If you're talking about a TRUE emergency, why waste time? just cut the rig off the victim. Webbing is cheap. I bet I can cut you out of your rig in less than 1.5 minutes---anywhere, any time, and in any conditions. Kent Lind Juneau, Alaska ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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