loonyblurb

So today is blog action day, and this year the big drive is to get everyone talking about climate change.

Now this is quite a big topic and one that I feel quite strongly about, among many other things. It’s just unfortunate that I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to really work on putting this post together with lots of interesting (and quite scary) facts and figures like I had originally planned. So instead you’ll have to put up with just a brief ramble from me that may or may not go some way towards encouraging you to think about the state that the world is currently in.

Pretty much everyday there’s some story in the newspaper about climate change or the causes and outcomes of climate change. Be it global warming, deforestation, you carbon footprint – all sorts of things. For example I came into work this morning and the first article that appeared on my google reader was this from the bbc:
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Bubbles *

Most divers want to decrease the amount of air that they use on each dive, and those who don’t use much air are often asked just what the secret is. So seeing as I seem to have gained a reputation as one of these people that “just don’t breathe”, I thought I’d pass on a few of my thoughts and tips.

Firstly, it’s VERY important to remember that decreasing your air consumption should not be an aim in itself, as it is actually an outcome of good diving practice and technique. Good air consumption does not make you a better diver, but it does allow you to stay down longer where appropriate.
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As a relatively experienced diver (100+ dives), I was greatly disturbed to find my DCI (decompression illness) knowledge shown up on my last scuba diving holiday, especially as the affected diver was actually my mum!

Now all divers should be aware of the common symptoms of DCI. They are, as listed in the PADI open water book (I use PADI as it’s one of the most common training agencies used):

1. shock
2. weakness
3. prolonged fatigue
4. lightheadedness
5. dizziness
6. numbness
7. tingling
8. difficulty breathing
9. varying degrees of joint or limb pain
10. paralysis
11. unconsiousness

The PADI rescue diver manual says much the same, though adds in cardiac arrest and nausea.

So we file them away and think ‘Okay, so if ever I come across a diver who has these symptoms, even potentially including myself then I’ll know what to do’.

The reality is somewhat different though. (more…)