Skin and Scuba Diving Fatalities Involving U.S. Citizens, 1971, Including a Complete Summary of Fatal Accidents for 1970.
Abstract
During 1971 there were 115 fatal accidents involving compressed air, non-military diving by U.S. Citizens, compared with 116 fatal cases in 1970. Sixteen skin divers died in 1971 as against 27 in 1970. New York and Hawaii showed substantial increases in diving deaths with Florida and Washington showing large reductions. The Florida decrease is apparently due to a reduction in cave diving accidents. Accident distribution by weekday and month were similar for the two years, Saturday and Sunday having almost two-thirds the case totals and the four summer months (May through August) having well over half the case load. The bulk of victims were drawn from the age range, 16 to 30 years. Twenty percent of all scuba victims were on their first dive or first open dive in 1971 compared to 16% in these categories in 1970. Fifteen novices died undergoing instruction, eight of these in a 'regular' or professional program. The bulk of the victims were lost in the water for periods in excess of ten minutes. Resuscitation was attempted in almost all cases. Inflatable vests often failed to inflate or to support the diver properly. Primary causes of accidents are varied, with inexperience and panic, lung over-pressure, and diving in dangerous areas being important problems. (Author Modified Abstract)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 08, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0756566
Entities
People
- Hilbert Schenck Jr.
- John Mcaniff
Organizations
- University of Rhode Island