Learn to dive in Sussex, Kent and Surrey with Sussex Scuba diving courses

The First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries programme is designed to provide knowledge regarding specific types of marine creature injuries and the general first aid treatment for those injuries.

The DAN HMLI course represents entry-level training designed to educate the general diving (and qualified non-diving) public to identify hazardous marine life, to recognise possible injuries caused by hazardous marine life, to provide first aid for hazardous marine life injuries and to avoid hazardous marine life injuries.

A diver surfaces from a dive in an area abundant with coral, removes his fins and finds redness, swelling and blisters just beginning to show on his left ankle. He also experiences a stinging sensation on the same ankle.

A diver, following a dive to an area filled with marine life, notices a small bite pattern on his lower right leg and some stiffness; he also experiences difficulty swallowing, has a generalized weakness and a slight numbness in the area of the bite.

A diver experiences pain, nausea and some swelling associated with a purple-and-black puncture wound in his left knee.

The common thread from each of the three injuries is that they likely came from contact with some form of hazardous marine life. Given similar circumstances with you or a dive buddy, would you be able to appropriately treat each injury?

Although serious hazardous marine life injuries are rare, most divers experience minor discomfort from unintentional encounters with fire coral, jellyfish and other marine creatures at some point in their dive careers. Knowing how to minimise these injuries helps you reduce diver discomfort and pain.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this programme, participants will be able to:-

• Identify the four types of hazardous marine life injuries.
• Name at least five venomous marine animals.
• List five common warning signs of an envenomation.
• Describe the appropriate first aid procedure for managing a venomous marine animal injury.
• Name at least three aquatic animals that may bite a diver.
• List two common warning signs of marine animal
• Describe the appropriate first aid procedure for managing a bite from a marine animal.
• Name at least three marine animals that may cause irritations to the diver.
• List at least four common warning signs of irritations.
• Describe the appropriate first aid procedure for managing brushes with aquatic life.
• Identify two common types of seafood poisonings.
• Name at least three types of fish that can cause seafood poisoning.
• List three common warning signs of seafood poisoning.
• State the reason why evaluation by a medical professional is necessary when seafood poisoning is suspected.
• Describe the appropriate first aid procedures for managing suspected seafood poisoning.
• Perform a scene safety assessment.
• List the steps in performing a scene safety assessment.
• Assess the Airway, Breathing and Circulation (ABCs) of an injured diver.
• Demonstrate a caring attitude towards a diver who becomes ill or injured.
• Establish and maintain the Airway and Breathing (perform Rescue Breathing) for an injured diver.
• Describe the importance of the use of supplemental oxygen as a first aid measure for injured divers.
• Demonstrate the techniques for controlling bleeding including direct pressure, elevation and the use of pressure dressings and pressure points.
• Locate and demonstrate the use of pressure points to control external bleeding.
• Apply dressings and bandages to manage wounds caused by hazardous marine life.
• Demonstrate an ongoing assessment and manage shock.
• Demonstrate the pressure immobilisation technique.
• List the components of an Emergency Assistance Plan.
• Describe at least five techniques or guidelines that minimise the risk of injury from marine animals.