TWO WEEKEND DIVING FATALITIES, REMINDER OF SAFETY

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard was notified of two diving fatalities this weekend, one near Tattoosh Island, Wash., and one on the west side of Camano Island, Wash.

Coast Guard crews from Station Neah Bay, Wash., responded to a mayday call  for a 59 year-old diver Saturday afternoon.  The man surfaced from a dive unconscious and friends on the recreational boat began cardio pulmonary resuscitation.  A 25-foot response boat from Neah Bay arrived with a registered nurse aboard who also performed CPR on the man.  The diver was transferred to the response boat and taken to Station Neah Bay where awaiting emergency medical technicians pronounced the man dead on arrival.

Aside from standard diving safety equipment, practices and certification, the Coast Guard would like to remind all boats to have the required safety equipment onboard and properly functioning.

Using the Divers Alert Network Emergency Hotline
1-919-684-8111 or 1-919-684-4DAN (Collect)

DAN's medical staff is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to handle diving emergencies such as decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, pulmonary barotrauma, or other serious diving-related injuries. Each year, DAN answers more than 2000 calls on the diving emergency hotline from its members and divers.

Wear a Life jacket :  The most important thing boaters should remember is to always wear a life jacket. Sixty-four percent of the people who have perished so far this year in Northwest boating accidents were not wearing lifejackets. If lifejackets had been worn, 14 people would have had a much better chance at surviving their accident. Eight out of nine people in Washington State that have perished in 2005 boating accidents drowned without having a lifejacket.

Marine Radio:  Investing in a good Very High Frequency FM (VHF FM) radio is a smart purchase. Cell phones should not be used as a primary means of emergency communication on the water where reception may be poor or unavailable. A VHF radio has certain advantages such as:
 
· Clear transmission.
 
· Strong signal.
 
· Channels reserved for distress calls. (VHF channel 16) · Continuously monitored frequencies.
 
For more in-depth information about radios and terminology visit the link below. http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/metlife/radio.htm

You can find the ABC course by going to: "www.americasboatingcourse.com<http://www.americasboatingcourse.com>, www.uscgaux.org/~130/, www.usps.org

Get a Free Vessel Safety Check:  Make sure your boat is in top operating condition. Poor mechanical condition is the leading cause of 98 percent of all search and rescue cases. You also need to ensure that you have the proper safety equipment on board. Vessel Safety Checks performed by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons provide a bow-to-stern inspection of a boat's condition and safety equipment. Coast Guard Auxiliarists and U.S. Power Squadron members perform these checks and provide expert assistance and recommendations on how you can make your boat safe.
You can request a safety check or find a location near you by going to; www.uscgaux.org/~130/ or, www.usps.org

Choose to File a Float Plan and Have an EPIRB:  Another important step to take is to file a float plan. Filing a float plan is as simple as telling friends, family and/or marina owners/operators where you are going and what time you expect to be back. Float plans help searchers through the guess work when you don't return as expected from a boating trip.

Use Flares for Emergencies Only:  Every year the Coast Guard receives and responds to numerous calls of boaters firing emergency flares from their vessels when they are not in distress. Using a flare as a firework could result in a delayed response to legitimate emergency situations on the water, as well as a Class D felony charge, six years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines and reimbursement of all costs the Coast Guard incurs. Make sure your flares are properly stowed, within their expiration period and ready for use.

Choose to Be on Guard:  The Coast Guard, along with State Boating Authorities asks boaters to be proactive in keeping each other safe by exercising sound judgment while boating. The leading cause of boating accidents and fatalities in the United States is operator inattention. Always keep a sharp lookout and respect the rights of others. These simple rules will make your boating experience enjoyable and a memory to last a lifetime.