Providing emergency oxygen after a dive accident may be the most significant factor contributing to a successful outcome in treating dive injuries. “While decompression illness and near-drowning diving accidents are rare, they do occur,” says Drew Richardson, President and Chief Operating Officer, PADI Worldwide. “Yet, only 50 percent of all injured divers receive emergency oxygen in the field. Fewer still receive oxygen concentrations approaching the recommended 100 percent. PADI believes that we must do better than this. Using PADI’s global influence and reach, this new specialty course will improve the percentage of injured divers receiving appropriate and effective emergency oxygen treatment.”

Course Overview
The new PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Specialty course is an entry-level emergency oxygen course that also teaches the recognition of dive illnesses treatable by emergency oxygen. Though suited for divers, the new course has no prerequisites and doesn’t include dives, which means it is equally applicable to those who are around divers – boat crew, nondiving buddies, lifeguards, and shore staff. No previous CPR or first aid training is required to take the course.

Course Materials
The course is supported by an instructor guide and new student materials, including the Emergency Oxygen Provider Manual, a 52-page, richly illustrated self-study manual and skill development guide. An innovative add-on is the new Emergency Oxygen Care at a Glance Reference card, which offers detailed prompts for providing emergency oxygen. The new reference card, an addendum to the existing PADI Accident Management Work Slate, guides users through the process of providing emergency oxygen from start to finish. The manual and Emergency Care at a Glance Reference card are packaged together in a convenient participant Crew-Pak.