Safety and Emergency Skills

Req 1 — Dive Safety Starts Here

1.
Do the following:

This requirement covers two safety skills that support everything else in the badge:

A scuba problem rarely starts with a dramatic movie moment. More often, it starts with something small: a diver who is too cold, too tired, breathing too fast, ignoring ear pain, or not paying attention to a buddy. Good divers learn to catch the early warning signs.

Requirement 1a:

1a.
Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while scuba diving, including hypothermia, hyperventilation, squeezes, decompression illness, nitrogen narcosis, motion sickness, fatigue, overexertion, heat reactions, dehydration, injuries by aquatic life, and cuts and scrapes.

Scuba first aid is about two things at once: recognizing what kind of problem is happening and acting early enough to keep it from becoming an emergency. Some dive problems are caused by cold or heat. Some come from pressure changes. Others happen because a diver is worn down before the dive even starts.

Cold, heat, and hydration problems

Hypothermia can happen faster than new divers expect because water pulls heat away from the body much faster than air. A diver may start by shivering, fumbling with gear, or speaking unclearly. The right first-aid response is to end the dive, get the diver dry, remove wet exposure clothing if possible, protect them from wind, and begin gradual warming.

At the other extreme, divers can overheat before they even enter the water. Hauling gear, standing in the sun, and wearing a thick wetsuit on deck or on shore can lead to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and poor decisions. Warning signs include headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, or unusually heavy sweating. Move the diver to shade, cool them, loosen gear, and help them rehydrate if they are awake and able to drink.

Breathing and pressure problems

Hyperventilation means breathing too fast or too shallow. Anxiety can trigger it before a dive or on the surface. A diver may feel lightheaded, panicky, or tingly. Help them stop the activity, get into a calm position, and slow their breathing. A diver who cannot settle down should not continue with the dive.

Squeezes happen when pressure changes are not equalized. The most common places are the ears, sinuses, and mask area. Pain is an early warning sign, not something to “push through.” A diver with squeeze symptoms should stop descending. If symptoms continue after the dive, they need medical evaluation.

Decompression illness happens when dissolved gases form bubbles in the body after a dive. Signs can include joint pain, unusual tiredness, skin changes, numbness, confusion, or trouble breathing. That is not a “wait and see” problem. Keep the diver at rest, activate emergency help, give oxygen if trained personnel and equipment are available, and follow emergency guidance.

Nitrogen narcosis affects thinking and judgment at depth. A diver may act overconfident, slow, silly, or confused. The fix is not arguing underwater. It is ascending in a controlled way with the buddy and instructor or dive leader following training and the plan.

Early warning signs divers should never ignore

Small symptoms often come before bigger emergencies
  • Cold stress: Shivering, clumsy hands, or slurred speech.
  • Heat stress: Headache, dizziness, nausea, or unusual fatigue.
  • Pressure trouble: Ear pain, sinus pain, or mask discomfort during descent.
  • Gas-related trouble: Confusion, unusual behavior, numbness, or breathing difficulty after a dive.
  • General stress: Panic, motion sickness, or exhaustion that makes a diver less able to follow directions.

Fatigue, overexertion, and motion sickness

Tired divers make bad choices. Fatigue can come from travel, poor sleep, dehydration, or several dives in a short period. Overexertion can happen while swimming against current, climbing a boat ladder in full gear, or struggling at the surface. First aid starts by stopping the work, helping the diver rest, breathing calmly, and getting out of the environment that is causing the stress.

Motion sickness may start before the dive and can leave a diver weak and distracted. A diver who feels miserable on a rocking boat is more likely to rush gear checks or forget simple steps. That is a safety issue, not just an inconvenience.

Aquatic life injuries and minor wounds

Most aquatic life injuries happen because someone touched, grabbed, stepped on, or crowded an animal. Good prevention starts with distance and buoyancy control. For stings, bites, or punctures, get the diver out of the water safely, rinse and protect the wound as appropriate, and seek medical help when symptoms are serious, unusual, or worsening.

Cuts and scrapes may sound minor, but salt water, boat decks, coral, and equipment edges can turn a small wound into a bigger problem. Clean the area, control bleeding, protect the wound, and watch for infection.

American Red Cross — First Aid Steps Trusted first-aid guidance that helps you review symptoms, priorities, and basic care for many injuries and illnesses. Link: American Red Cross — First Aid Steps — https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/first-aid.html

Requirement 1b:

1b.
Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how to recognize such conditions. Demonstrate the proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.

A diver can have a breathing emergency on a boat, dock, beach, or pool deck. That is why CPR belongs in a scuba badge. Your job here is not to become casual about CPR. It is to understand that CPR is used only in a very specific kind of emergency, and that your counselor expects you to demonstrate it correctly on a training manikin.

When CPR is used

CPR is for a person who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Depending on your training, you may also hear this described as a person who shows no signs of life. You do not start CPR on someone who is talking, coughing, or breathing normally, even if they are scared or weak.

Recognizing the situation means slowing down and checking the basics:

What your counselor wants you to explain

Your explanation should show judgment, not just memorized words. A strong answer sounds like this: “I perform CPR when the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. I recognize that by checking for responsiveness, looking for normal breathing, and calling for emergency help and an AED right away.”

That is different from saying, “CPR is what you do in any emergency.” It is not. CPR is for a very specific life-threatening situation.

What the demonstration is really testing

When you demonstrate CPR on a training device, your counselor is looking for calm, correct sequence and solid technique. They want to see that you can:

You do not need to guess at technique. Use the exact method your instructor or counselor approved in training.

American Red Cross — CPR Training Overview of CPR training and why hands-on practice matters for real emergencies. Link: American Red Cross — CPR Training — https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/cpr-training

The rest of this badge assumes you can stay calm around water, stress, and emergency thinking. Next, make sure your swimming ability is strong enough to support real scuba training.