DAN Training & Education
Dive Accident First Aid for Non-Divers

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Often, non-divers end up having to care for divers in a dive emergency. Possible scenarios include:

• Divers’ symptoms don’t show up for three or four hours after a dive and they are home with a non-diving spouse.
• A diver surfaces early in a dive while the divemaster is off the boat leading the dive. Only the captain or a deckhand is onboard.

Understanding that, DAN has created a simplified version of its training courses with the non-diver in mind. The Dive Accident First Aid for Non-Divers program includes key skills from:

• Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries
• First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries
• Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Scuba Diving

This program is not intended for divers. It is appropriate for non-diving spouses, bubble watchers, boat captains and mates and anyone else, who may have to care for a diver involved in a dive injury.

The difference between this program and other programs such as the Diving Emergency Management Provider course along with individual DAN programs, is the content is limited to “What to look for” and “What to do about it”. “Why its happening” was left out.

Essentially, this program includes symptom recognition and the first aid skills to provide care. In complete DAN programs, divers also learn the affects these injuries have on their bodies and how to prevent them. This information is important for divers to help them be safer, but from a non-diver standpoint, this information is not as critical as responding to the immediate need.