Shallow water blackout

We hope this video makes people aware of the dangers of free diving alone. Its more fun in pairs and definitely safer :)

 avoid shallow-water blackout:

• Do not hyperventilate to excess no more than three or four breaths.
• Recognize that any strenuous exercise will limit your bottom time drastically; when you exercise, head for the surface much sooner than usual.
• Recognize a dangerous situation when your mind starts to focus on a goal, and drop your weight belt.
• Treat your weight belt as a disposable item; if in doubt, drop it. Bring a spare weight belt to decrease your hesitancy to drop it.
• Avoid endurance dives. If you must make a long or deep dive, make sure you have a buddy standing by on the surface.
• Adjust your weight belt so that you will float at 5 meter. ( for example 3mm wetsuits maximum weight 3if you r diving lower than 5 meter, if you diving depth is only 5 meter is ok to use more than 3 weights)
• Consider a swimming pool a dangerous place to practice endurance breath-holding. Always have an observer standing by to assist.
• Learn the basics of CPR and think about adapting them to your diving arena, whether diving from shore, board or boat. More info

Freedive Safely

1. Dive with an evenly matched buddy, and conform to the level of the least capable diver.
2. Weight yourself correctly (positively buoyant at surface) even after exhalation.
3. Do not hyperventilate to excess.
4. One up/ One down – diving with constant visual contact. When conditions allow each diver should have a flag.
5. Maintain close, direct supervision of any freediver for no less than 30 seconds after he surfaces.
6. Make your minimum surface interval twice the duration of your dive time.
7. Do not take every dive to its limit. Maintain a reserve.
8. Review, practice and discuss how to recognize and handle blackouts and near blackouts. More info

Rescue Skills

1. Get victim to surface immediately. Establish positive buoyancy for the both of you.
2. For a witnessed blackout; remove mask and snorkel, blow on face-eyes, stimulate face with a few taps, vocalize encouragement to breathe, otherwise open the airway and begin immediate rescue breathing. 1 breath every 5 seconds
3. Get victim to land or boat ASAP, manage ABCDs (airway-breathing-circulation-deadly bleeding) start CPR with O2, 30 compressions to 2 ventilations, as needed.
4. If evacuation from water is prolonged, monitor Airway & Breathing and provide rescue breathing (1 breath every 5 sec.) during transport if needed.
5. Seek help from EMS (emergency medical services) 911, or hail the Coast Guard on Channel 16 on VHF radio.
6. After a SWB, STOP diving and immediately seek medical evaluation. 

All information are from http://shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org