These two programs are designed for fire, police and EMS who respond to water-related emergencies. The training most rescuers and EMS are given on the recognition and management of drowning and dive related accidents is far from sufficient and often includes misconceptions.

The 12 hour Field Neurological Evaluation Program begins by providing students with the most up-to-date information on the causes, prevention and physiology of:

Lung Overpressurization injuries -arterial gas embolism, pneumothorax, mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema (we begin with a review of the cardiopulmonary systems)

Decompression sickness I, II, III

Cold Stress, Hypothermia and Immersion Hypothermia

Dehydration

Other Barotrauma – ear, sinus, tooth

Shock with applications to dive accidents

Heart attack, heat exhaustion and heat stroke as related to dive accidents

Students are then trained in a Field Neurological secondary survey designed to specifically find the often subtle signs and symptoms of dive accident problems. Students learn how to effectively record this information in a format helpful to the receiving hospital and hyperbaric facility.

Other topics included in this program are

Contraindications to diving and their relationship to dive accident prevention and recognition

Issues relating specifically to the public safety diver safety- black water risks, tether risks, transporting victim problems, and more

Risk factors – alcohol, obesity, fitness, smoking, dehydration and more

The Field Neurological Evaluation program also serves to refresh students’ knowledge of basic physiology of the respiration and circulatory systems including:

Temperature regulation

Shock

Water Regulation, etc.

The 8-hour Oxygen Administration Program

This program integrates the knowledge and skills acquired in the Field Neurological Program with patient management knowledge and skills. Lifeguard Systems Instructors train thousands of fire, police and EMS around the world in dive accident management. The lack of understanding of proper techniques for administering oxygen in dive accident situations became so evident that a program was developed for the public service rescuer.

The academic lectures directly enhance the student’s abilities to perform first aid and treatment protocols. The hands-on skills and knowledge covered include:

The four phases of respiration as they relate to dive accidents and other water related accidents.

Dalton and Henry’s Laws as they are applied to Oxygen Administration

Effect of normobaric oxygen on dive accidents and why it must be high flow

What is hyperbaric oxygen treatment and how does it function – what local facilities are available

What other than dive accidents is hyperbaric oxygen used for and how does it function (carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene, crush injuries, diabetic wounds, etc.)

CPR and rescue breathing review session

Different types of oxygen delivery devices for breathing and non breathing dive accident patients – continuous flow and demand regulators with effective masks for each systems, bag valve masks, pocket mask use.

Myth – demand does not mean positive pressure

Oxygen Administration games (drills)

pre-warmed and humidified oxygen

Patient communication specific to dive accident victims

Dive Accident Report Forms

Keeping yourself liability defensive

The Field Neurological and Oxygen Administration programs, created by Walter “Butch” Hendrick and Andrea Zaferes, are accepted by the major scuba certifying agency including ACUC, NAUI USA and Canada, PADI USA and Canada, YMCA, PDIC and NASDS. Both the Field Neurological and Oxygen Administration programs provide CEU credits.

For additional information please do not hesitate to contact us.

All programs can be customized to meet the exact needs of the hosting department.

The fee for this program is contingent on the number of students and program location. Each of these programs can be incorporated into our Rapid Deployment Search and Rescue training programs.

The Field Neurological program is a prerequisite for the Oxygen Administration program. The Field Neurological program can be taken by itself. The FN/O2 programs are prerequisites for the FN/O2 Instructor Training program. Upon successful completion of the Instructor Training program, students will have our permission to send in the copyrighted course curriculums to any certification agency of their choice.

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