Coast Guard, dive boat captains coordinate emergency planning

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach hosted a symposium Nov. 14, 2011, designed to provide southern California dive boat captains and crew coordinated information, rescue protocols and best practices to follow should a diving accident occur.

The symposium provided a face-to-face opportunity for dive boat operators to ask questions and share professional concerns with industry and rescue personnel.

Major topics covered were dive gear and breathing air systems, dive emergencies and Baywatch, hyperbaric evaluations and utilization, post-accident equipment handling, transition from First Aid to the Correct Advanced Medical, marine casualty reporting and investigations.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew demonstrated the equipment and procedures that would be used during a helicopter rescue.

The event was hosted by the Sector LA/LB Dive Casualty Investigation team. Contributing to the symposium's success were subject matter experts from the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Lifeguard Rescue Boat Section, University of Southern California Hyperbaric Facility Catalina, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Orange County Sheriff's Department and a physician specializing in submarine and hyperbaric medicine.

Click HERE for photo.

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