a comprehensive pre-dive check would have identified the issues before the diver entered the water and prevented the LoC .
Both incidents clearly demonstrate that if different decisions had been made while preparing for and during both dives , then neither diver would have suffered LoC . That is why BSAC CCR training and diving practices will continue to have their primary focus on preventing diver LoC . The key lessons taken from events such these , reinforce the critical importance of CCR divers being robustly trained and then continuing to use the established techniques that they have been taught . This starts before the dive with regular equipment maintenance , gas analysis , use of checklists and buddy checks . Once in the water good buddy drills , linearity checks and of course regular gauge / handset monitoring will identify any issues long before they cause LoC . Any alarms need to be promptly acted upon , issues communicated to the buddy and sensible decisions taken .
Of course , the potential benefits of MRS are also recognised by BSAC , which is why we are pleased to be able to present them through January ’ s webinar and in this month ’ s articles . Safe Diving also now includes MRS and they are also being taught on the new MOD 1 , MOD 1 Top Up and MOD 2 ( 60 m ) CCR courses .
It is critical that divers are encouraged to adopt known safe procedures , which is why BSAC ’ s Technical Group has recently drafted a CCR refresher document for the Rebreather Training Council ( RTC ). This aims to focus CCR divers and refresh core skills before they return to diving post-lockdown . A recently released BSAC video also covers similar topics . It is very much hoped that rigorous adoption of safe procedures will allow instances of CCR diver Loss of Consciousness to be confined to the history books , or at least significantly reduced . �
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