Thursday, October 20, 2011

Scuba Diving First Aid Kit

Scuba diving can be a dangerous sport but millions of people love to do it every day around the world. There are many things that you can do to ensure that you are safest when you are out on and under the sea. There are also certain things you should keep in a scuba diving first aid kit so you are safe at all times.

Stings are very common when you are below the sea. This is because there are millions of sea creatures with stinging capabilities. The most common sting that people rise above the water with comes from jellyfish. A jellyfish sting can be very painful. There are over 9,000 of different types of jellyfish that can deliver different types of stings. When you are stung by a jellyfish the first thing you wan to do is flush the injury completely. You need to use plenty of seawater to clean out a sting. Vinegar will help also. The venom from a sting needs to be neutralized. If you have a sting from a creature that left a stinger in the skin then you must remove the stinger with a pair of tweezers.

Dive Watch

Puncture wounds also occur when you are scuba diving in the ocean. Punctures stab through the skin which can cause you to bleed. Punctures are often caused by things like sea urchins, lionfish, and even cone snail. You may even be punctured with a harpoon like jab from a stingray. All punctures should be treated seriously. The first thing you need to do with a puncture is to flush the wound with hot water for over 30 minutes. If there are any remaining spines they need to be removed. You must seek immediate treatment when you come upon any type of puncturing injury because it could be venomous and deadly. After flushing out the would wrap it tightly with an ace bandage and seek medical attention.

Bites are another danger that you can come upon when you are scuba diving in the ocean. They can come from snakes, octopus and other creatures, all of which should be treated as serious. A blue ringed octopus bite can cause your breathing airways to close up on you. Never take a bite in the ocean seriously.

When you are scuba diving it is important to carry a safety kit with you and have it ready in case there are any injuries including puncture wounds, stings, and bites. Your safety kit should include things like ace bandages, bacteria cream, vinegar, and more. Be sure you have tools like tweezers so you can remove things like stingers. Many other things that you should include in your safety kit include rubbing alcohol, fresh water, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, tape, shaving kit, gauze pads, and soap. Having the right contents in your first aid kit will ensure that you can take care of an injury until you can get the person to proper medical attention. Always seek medical attention. Waiting too long or avoiding a doctor could be the result of death.

Scuba Diving First Aid Kit

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