>Find out what means of communication will be available in the event of an emergency. A dive operation should have ship-to-shore capabilities, but groups of traveling divers might wish to ensure at least one member has a satellite phone or a cell phone with international calling capabilities. Also find out whether there is cell coverage and/or wireless Internet. These can allow use of SMS messaging (texting) as well communication applications such as FaceTime and WhatsApp. Every diver should travel with a surface marker buoy and one or more signaling devices.
>Notify your bank or credit card company of upcoming travel to ensure access to funds in the event of an emergency. Take inventory of important files to keep safe such as your passport, ID and DAN membership card. You might also include a list of personal health considerations such as medications, allergies and medical history. Check out the "Keep it with You" list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at CDC.gov/disasters/kiwy.html. The release form you sign for your dive operator may have an "in case of emergency" line; include that information, and write legibly.
>While originals are required for official use, consider making several copies of important documents and forms. Leave one folder of copies at home with a friend or family member. Place a second set of copies in a sealed envelope, and give it to a trusted traveling companion or your resort or dive operator to be opened in the event of an emergency and reclaimed when you leave. A third copy can go in your wallet or luggage. Also consider bringing copies of your prescriptions in case your medication gets lost.
>Make sure your dive accident and travel insurance policies are up to date. Save the DAN emergency hotline number, +1 (919) 684-9111, in your phone along with your DAN member number. Log in to your account on DAN.org to enter or update your emergency contacts, address, phones number(s) and email address. Your email address can be useful if you do not have cell reception when you are traveling and need to communicate with DAN TravelAssist.
>Before you leave, check with your insurance company to verify coverage out of your home area. In general, DAN insurance is diving and accident coverage, not major medical, so a supplemental policy for medical problems is a reasonable precaution. Some trip and travel insurance policies (including DAN's) have a medical component, but carefully read the policy to confirm specific coverage. Trip or travel insurance is also useful in the event of missed flights or weather-related delays or cancellations.
>Be prepared for emergencies. Take a refresher first-aid course, and have basic supplies such as bandages, antibiotic ointment, steroid cream, diphenhydramine (antihistamine) and medication for gastrointestinal distress.
>Check with your primary-care doctor, a local travel medicine clinic or the CDC to determine what vaccinations, if any, are recommended for your destination. Your doctor might also be willing to supplement your first-aid kit with motion-sickness medication, antibiotics, steroids or other potentially useful prescription medications — along with specific instructions for their use.
>Finally, consider the type of diving you plan to do. Deep, aggressive diving can offer access to infrequently visited sites, but it also places divers at increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS). Be sure you have the requisite training and experience for the sites the operator plans to visit.
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>The more remote the area, the longer it will take to get to a hyperbaric chamber. Reduce your risk of DCS by diving conservatively. Get acquainted with your dive computer; learn how to program it to conservative settings. Also, one of the best safety practices a diver can adopt is to extend one's time in the shallows beyond the recommended three-minute safety stop or decompression obligation. As long as you account for factors such as staying warm, other divers' preferences and remaining daylight, once you're in the 15- to 20-foot range, the longer you stay, the better.
>While most trips you take will be free from accidents and incidents, they sometimes happen. Ensure a good outcome by being prepared.
>© Alert Diver — Q4 Fall 2017