(By Tim Hunt)

I have a fondness for Guildenburgh, ever since July 1995, when Inger “prodded “ a very angry pike lurking inside the bus while we were diving with Mark and Paul.

And we did our final Sport Diver exercises with Kevin and Becky in November that year, finishing as darkness fell. So, when Nov 22^nd was suggested as the date for Dive Leader Rescue Management Scenarios, I thought, fine; only later did I realise it clashed with the rugby final: VCR will overcome.

All the kit was ready by the water by 9, including waterproof sun-block, teams were selected and the scenarios began. We watched a tough PADI diver with no gloves or hood last a full 90 seconds in the balmy water before shivering to the shop. Clive, Steve, Simon and Kevin were running the sessions, and the participants were Helen, Kirsten, Inger, Rosie, Beate, Arnold, Malcolm, Chris and Tim.

The exercises consisted of dragging some poor victim around the lake until he was well and truly traumatised, either from a surface start in the throws of cramp, or from an unconscious slump down at the 6 metre platform. The Rescue Manager then compounded the situation by having all his helpers drag the poor chap out of the water and across the bricks, all the time taking his kit off for later resale, and giving him lots of squeezing and kissing. ( CPR and AV to all you novices).

After 2 or 3 scenarios we all managed to remember which of the O2 kit-masks to use for which type of trauma.  Sending innocent bystanders to the phones to call  999 or up to the Stoney/Guildie/Blue Lagoon emergency office added to the fine display of headless-chicken syndrome. Beate and Chris collapsed after lunch; not the rapid onset of Guildie Special chicken-burger induced intestinal eruptions but a cunning ploy by Clive to show that DCS can start to show itself well after the dive has finished.

Graham arrived to try some new suit-seals and was co-opted as safety diver and surface cover. Malcolm discovered that a helicopter carries a mighty electrical wallop in its dangling rope if you don’t let it “ground” first. Tim got a Bafta when Beate sliced an enormous gash in his leg by the inappropriate use of the RIB outboard. What followed was a thing of beauty, when the still over-acting casualty was safely hoisted from the water by the almost magical technique of parbuckling.  Demonstrations will take place soon in the pool when Clive and Steve get back from supporting David Copperfield in Las Vegas.

At about 3, and the rain still hadn’t relented, Simon got his “Saturation Dive” signed-off, so we took him inside to steam gently under one of the ceiling lamps. (he’ll bring a dry-suit next time). We grabbed hot tea in the café and the instructors debriefed us with an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses in our performance. Simon unveiled his world-class entry in the papier-mache contest.

What did we learn?
- With training, we can be effective in a crisis and learn to take charge of the situation and run a co-ordinated rescue. Also, the rescue manager must identify the capabilities of those available to you and use them effectively, while keeping a close eye on how it is proceeding overall.

- Time is of the essence. Teamwork teamwork teamwork.

- Beware the “over-zealous” Paramedic who insists on the administration on ENTONOX to a diving casualty.

- There are many more things that can be done to make the casualty comfortable other than just  rescue, oxygen and dialling 999.

- Try to refresh the skills and knowledge that may have become rusty; you never know when you may need them.

- When a casualty, after 10 minutes of AV and TLC, reaches into his dry-suit leg pocket and retrieves a laminated notice saying “I’m bored, fancy a sh*g ”, he wasn’t that ill after-all.

 And finally, on behalf of all the trainees, I would like to thank Clive, Steve, Simon, Kevin and Graham  for running the day’s session with enthusiasm and making it such a fun way to get over the vitally important lessons.