Approximately two-thirds of divers with decompression illness have evidence of damage to their nervous system. These signs are often vague and can go unrecognized by the diver, causing the symptoms to be dismissed as insignificant or not dive related and the treatment possibly to be delayed.
The On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers focuses on how to obtain essential information about a diver involved in a dive emergency and what information to relay to emergency medical services.
The DAN On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers course is designed to:
refresh the knowledge of the warning signs of a dive emergency
identify when it is appropriate to conduct an on-site neurological assessment
conduct an on-site neurological assessment
Only medical professionals should diagnose medical conditions. The information you gather while performing a neurological assessment will be useful to help the dive physician understand the extent of the injury and how it has changed in the time it took to get the diver from the dive site to definitive care.
Recommended Minimum Hours of Training
Knowledge development (lecture) hours = 1
Skills development (practical) hours = 3
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
understand and identify common warning signs of decompression illness
take a dive history to determine when it is appropriate to conduct a complete on-site neurological assessment
use an on-site neurological assessment slate to conduct a complete on-site neurological assessment
Skill Performance ObjectivesTo successfully complete the DAN On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers course, participants must demonstrate skill and confidence in conducting an On-Site Neurological Assessment.
Skills Development
Taking a history
Taking vital signs
Mental function
Consciousness
Speech and language
Orientation to time and place
Judgment
Short-term memory
Abstract reasoning
Calculations
Cranial nerves
Eye control
Facial control
Facial sensation
Hearing
Motor function
Shoulders
Biceps
Triceps
Finger spread
Grip strength
Hip flexors
Quadriceps
Hamstrings
Feet
Sensory function
Light touch
Sharp touch
Balance and coordination
Walking
Finger-nose-finger
Ready to learn how to conduct an on-site neurological exam?