Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries

The DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries 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 nondivers, 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.
Recommended Minimum Hours of Training
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.


Learning Objectives
Course participants must be familiar with the signs and symptoms of major diving injuries including near drowning and decompression illness (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), nonrebreather 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.


Skill Performance Objectives
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, nonrebreather mask

Oronasal resuscitation mask with supplemental oxygen inlet

Identifying the main components of the DAN Oxygen Unit:

Jumbo D cylinder and valve

Multifunction 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

Nonrebreather mask

Oronasal resuscitation mask with supplemental oxygen inlet

Ready to become an oxygen provider? Find an oxygen instructor near you.

Want to teach Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries? Find out how to become qualified today.