ITDA Rescue Specialist V.9.8 Training

• These study notes are for the ITDA Rescue Specialist V.9.8 SCUBA-RESCUE DIVER Training and E-Certification program manual
• The manual was compiled, edited, updated, and written by Stephen Craig-Murray ©98-2025
• ITDA Training Board & ITDA Academy Assessor
• ITDA®-IHMP International Co. Ltd provides the e-Manual PDF International Support for ITDA with E-Certificate & Photo ID

About Rescue

• You will learn about the definitions and subject knowledge that is our Rescue Diver & Rescue Specialist
• Topics include surface rescue to rescue from depth, dealing with panicked divers, and unconscious divers

Diving Theory

• Applying advanced diving knowledge is critical, as well as performing specific tasks & skills for rescues

Skills Development

• Specialist diving skills aligning to International Certification Standards are needed as an “ITDA Specialist Rescue Diver"

Section 1: Stress Factors

• Scuba diving is generally safe, though operations occur in areas with limited access to emergency medical services
• Divers require self-reliance to handle situations

Mastering Rescue Skills

• Mastering rescue skills requires continuous review and practice, and is inadequate to just complete a course in diver rescue
• Rescue management skills increase the chance of success
• ITDA Scuba Rescue Workshop Program: 1 Day Review & Practice of vital skills

Preventing Accidents

• Emphasize prevention of accidents
• Focus on the recognition of early warning signs through observation and experience
• Pay attention to equipment handling before, during, and after dives
• There is no single way to perform a rescue
• Develop a "skills bank" of techniques, mastering primary skills before adding more
• A "skills bank" should be developed from which to draw in any given emergency.
• It's better to have mastered five skills compared to knowing ten skills averagely
• The ITDA method of “Program Instruction” and on-going education and training, meets the requirements of the Rescue diver, and are available for specialized rescue programs like the Advanced Rescue and Public Safety Diver
• The course exceeds Training Standards for both the RSTC Recreational Scuba Training Council, CMAS (The World Federation for Sub Aquatic Activities), and is approved by the ITDA Board of Education and Training
• The author is the Chairman.
• Approved by UK HSE “Health & Safety Executive”, a UK Government Body

Diver Stress

• Start with the ability to recognize that another diver is experiencing the effects of stress
• Physiological stress occurs because of beliefs, attitudes, situations, as well as psychological aspects
• Rescue divers need to be observant in stressful situations

Sources of Stress

• Time Pressure: Divers place pressure on themselves when trying to begin or not leaving enough time for decompression
• Task Loading: Some divers may also have too many tasks to accomplish
• Exertion: Overcoming currents and dive gear drag.
• Physical conditioning factors in reducing exertion.
• Certain environmental conditions dictate a diver is in better than average physical condition.
• Cold affects divers more than tropical waters
• Can also affect water divers when exposed to deeper dives or dives of long duration, or with a number of repetitive dives
• Equipment problems occur when divers use ill-fitting equipment, equipment that are not properly trained to handle, or equipment which has not been properly maintained cause most equipment problems
• Buoyancy occurs when buoyancy is not maintained, resulting in stress, due to exertion
• Limited Visibility occurs in inexperienced divers.
• Ego Threat: A feeling you should go along with a group
• It is important to know sources of stress, and handle stressful situations

Effects of Stress

• The inability to see the total picture, is defined as narrowing
• Perceptual, analytical, and response narrowing are responses to situations that are life-threatening
• Diver actions may include human error and panic.
• REMEMBER - PANIC KILLS

Dealing with Stress

• Learn to expect stress
• Master Mask clearing
• Anticipate what skill is important
• The diver spends time "over learning" skills, especially for self-rescue
• Know your equipment intimately
• Find your equipment by touch
• When you need to act fast, ask “What is wrong, and what can I do about it?”
• Know you air supply and buddy gas access
• Manage the situation
• The source of the problem is low air / gas

Stress Management

What is Stress?

• "Wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment
• Can create positive or negative feelings
• As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action and create new awareness
• As a negative influence, trigger rejection, anger, depression, which in turn cause headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke

How Can I Eliminate Stress from My Life?

• Positive stress adds anticipation and excitement to life
• Insufficient stress can act as a depressant
• What we need to do is find the optimal level of individual stress

How Can I Tell What Optimal Stress Is for Me?

• What is distressing to one may be joy to another
• Most illnesses are related to unrelieved stress

How Can I Manage Stress Better?

• Identify unrelieved stress
• Become aware of your emotional and physical reactions, and determine what distresses you
• Recognize what you can change
• What stressors can you avoid?
• Reduce intensity or exposure to stress
• Reduce the intensity of your emotional reactions to stress
• Build physical and emotional reserves

1. 5 Self-Rescue

• "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure applies throughout diving
• Responsible divers are prepared physically and mentally
• Equip they wear is in top condition
• “Talk and Tow” calms divers
• Maintain a strong buddy team effort
• "Checking Air Continuously”
• It's not okay to vomit as the product may clog the valve

Section 2. FIRST AID

• CPR and Rescue Breathing are not far behind first aid efforts
• Oxygen Administration
• First aid courses are general in nature
• The Training Programs from IHMP - cardio pulmonary resuscitation, and a “Diving First-Aid” Course is needed
• One should have a first aid kit to cover accidents

First Aid Kit:

• Phone numbers (coastguard etc)
• hot or cold pack
• Antibacterial
• Bandage and tape

2. 1 Oxygen equipment

• Used for air embolism and pneumothorax
• Oxygen and Vent for Life support are most useful

2. 2 Pocket Mask

• Use to avoid mask to mask resuscitation, one way valve is needed
• Red Cross, your instrcutor and other medical offcies supply these

2. 3 Diving Specific Probems

• Should also talk courses in first aid
• Use an AED

A. E

Expanding air in lungs when a divers comes up

• Blocks blood, no oxygen
• Brain damage
• Asthma, smokers and muccous plugs can hurt
• Most often, you will have bright frothy blood in your mouth

What Does Boyle’s Law Predict about Pressures?

• Gas at constant temperature
• Scuba allows constant inhalation of air
• Air is absorbed to the blood and replenished via the tank
• The air density of the tanks increases, meaning there are more molecules there

1 What is difference between SCUBA Diving and Holding

Glottis

• A voice box, it lets you breath and speak at the same time
• We close it when we hold our air

Wat is Barotrauma?

• Damage because of equal pressures
• the ear, sinuses may erupt with an organ

What pressure problems can occur on decent?

• relate to limited communication between the upper middle ear
• middle air squeeze
• a feeling of ear suffiness, unchecked pain or damage

The cause of middle ear?

• making sire inhaled air travels from tthe nose through the sinuses
• tube functions as one way valve

Prevention?

• dive must be conscious of tube o decent or else its seals
• This is done by several manouvres
• Valssalva is forced exhilation

What kind is treatment of Middle Ear?

Mild cases use decongestants •antibiotics maybe given for severe pains

What other forms of Barotrauma

Descent

• Inner ear, Cochaler damage permanent
• Tinitus verito

Ascen

• Reverse squeeze is most common
• Barondotalgia

Is Plumanery Barotrauma?

•damage to lungs cause by too much presssure, risk

• Continuous breathes

What is age?

arteriall Gas embolism the most seriuos prbleme

what is treatment?

• flat position

Section 1 summary

• This rescue can tell u about everything there is to know

Section 2 quiz question

• List 2 supplies that is in a dive kit and not normally found in first aid,
• What would u use to avid mask 2 mask.

Section 3 Rescue Skills

• 3 Conscious injures diver
• 3 Recsue situations
• Rescues both above and below water

Distressed diver

• positive cation should be taken possible

Surface

aides shoud not jelodize themselfs

Underwater

•potential problems can arise jsut beheath the surface