Show me any organisation who does it better...Kenny - Assistant Instructor/ScientistOctober 4, 2006 at 10:23:47Hi Lynn. Have you read a BSAC incident report?
Do you agree that it encompasses accidents? Would you say that all incidents are accidents? Have a look at this, or any other year's and see if, in your opinion, every incident should be called an accident. I'm not being facetious, I actually am interested in your response. If a report did not want to confine itself to accidents, but to encompass as many incidents as possible, should it have to call itself an "accident
report"? Personally my feeling is that to call an incident where someone got a DCI (decompression illness) from having a PFO (a hole in the heart) an accident would be to sensationalise an unfortunate situation. It's not an accident in the modern understanding and usage of the word. Also, I wouldn't expect the case where one diver deliberately turned off the air of another to be termed an accident. Likewise, a diver who hid for
three days and sparked a massive and costly rescue mission. I don't want that to be called an accident. However, I do want these to be included in a report, and I'm happy for it to be called an Incident Report. Can you expand on your "failing marks" for BSAC for their scuba diving safety? All the incidents are there, accidents included. It's even got a sub category of "fatalities". I'm sure I'm not alone in having met divers who like to see their sport as extremely dangerous. It's types like these who seem to want to read about diving accidents and, generally, the misfortune of others - it makes them feel invincible. These types rarely read a report and think "what would I do in that situation?" or "maybe it's time to update my skills and learn some rescue or first aid techniques". I'm into promoting the safety of divers, and if that
can be assisted by reading an incident report then I'm in favour. I'd like to see a report which not only looks at incidents, but breaks them down and attempts to educate others how to deal with a similar situation. BSAC uses trends in the Incident Report to update training, to identify areas of common faults or weaknesses. As an example of diving safety, BSAC include in their most basic course lessons on diver rescue. It's
frequently the most challenging but rewarding part of that course. The second level of qualification goes into great detail about diver rescue and has been updated very recently - something that another organisation doesn't intend to do until all its present manuals are sold. I don't know of any other organisation which introduces the concept of rescue and the practical lessons so early in a diver's "career" as BSAC. To anyone who criticises the Incident Report -
show me any organisation who does it better. | 
