DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries

The course is designed to train and educate the general diving public in the techniques of using oxygen as first aid for a suspected dive injury. In addition, this course will introduce novice divers to the fundamentals of recognizing diving injury warning signs, response and management. This program also provides an excellent opportunity for experienced divers and instructors to continue their education.

The DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries course is not designed to train lay persons to provide oxygen to the general public. While the medical standards and equipment are the same regarding the emergency use of oxygen for both divers and non-divers, the DAN Oxygen Provider course does not prepare individuals to respond to the ill or injured member of the general public by using emergency oxygen.

Knowledge Development (Lecture) = 1 Hour
Skills Development (Practice) = 3 Hours

This course should be taught as a four-hour program. The time needed to teach the course varies and depends on many factors including the number of students and their ability to process the educational components of the program. Instructors who want to include subjects or training beyond the course requirements may do so only before or following the course. Any additional training must not be required for completion of course requirements.

Course participants must be familiar with the signs and symptoms of major diving injuries including near drowning and decompression illnesses (arterial gas embolism and decompression sickness).
Course participants must demonstrate proper deployment, assembly, disassembly, and use of all components of the DAN Oxygen Unit. This includes use of the demand inhalator valve / mask, constant flow (delivering oxygen at least 15 lpm), non-rebreather mask and oronasal resuscitation mask with supplemental oxygen inlet.
Course participants must complete the DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries examination with a minimum passing score of 80 percent. The instructor will review the examination with each participant to ensure 100 percent understanding of the material.

To successfully complete the DAN Oxygen Provider course, participants must demonstrate skill and confidence during deployment, assembly and disassembly of all parts of the DAN Oxygen Unit (or other acceptable units).

The course participant must demonstrate skill and confidence while providing emergency oxygen to simulated injured divers by:

• Assessing the scene and oxygen provider safety
• Deploying and operating the DAN Oxygen Unit
• Selecting and preparing the appropriate oxygen mask

Operating the DAN Oxygen Unit and using these oxygen delivery devices:

• Demand inhalator valve and mask
• Constant-flow, non-rebreather mask
• Oronasal resuscitation mask with supplemental oxygen inlet

Identification of the main components of the DAN Oxygen Unit:

• Jumbo D cylinder and valve
• Multi-function regulator
• “T” handle
• Handwheel/wrench
• Oxygen washer
• Constant-flow controller
• Intermediate (green) pressure hose
• Pressure activated check valve (in threaded outlet)
• Demand inhalator valve
• Oronasal mask
• Non-rebreather mask
• Oronasal resuscitation mask with supplemental oxygen inlet