Well we spent a day cruising round the island on motos. How embarrassing is this.... the motorbike rider fell off. In my defense I was on a little scooter going up a steep hill that was made of sand and just didn't give it enough welly so fell off laughing. Gavin came running to rescue. Few scratches but one guy on a dirt bike had problems, so i didn't feel bad and you want to see the amount of people here on crutches because of moto accidents. Not sure if i have mentioned this or not.
Saw some lovely bays and rays coming up while your standing in the shallows and swimming over your toes.
Gavin I have done a 3 day rescue course with an aussie called chris who was excellent fun. Big shaved haired with a zz top goaty...and a real diamond geezer.
We had to do a first aid course first, with a dummy that looked like it had been through a shark attack. We had to do CPR what you would do if this happened and the amercican version goes like this... "hi my name is alex I will be your recuer/1st aider for the day.... can I assist you". If no response from the victim (they are a victim before i start my first aid, in case anyone wants to comment), then you wait while they bleed to death and put your blue sirgical gloves on so you wont catch anything... also in the kit bag which you carry around is a breathing mask so you dont have to give mouth to mouth actually contacting the person. God help the victim if you don't have these two things. Also an obsession on if you give first aid would you be sued... this is typical PADI videos and training.
We passed that... next was a manual and 4 knowledge reviews to do.
Day 2 all 3 go in the water with a recovering fred (recovering from either food or alcohol poisoning, from the stories I hear could be the second). We have to rescue a tired diver/panicked diver... Gavin gets ridden like a horse at one point which was quite funny. There were lots more skills, rescuing unconscious diver from surface, finding missing buddy.
Day 3 getting an unconscious diver on the surface onto boat and giving cpr while removing all equipment in water. That
Day 4 (so much for 3 day course)... we put everything into parctice. Basically fred and his assistant take all 3 of us out, and anything could happen. When we hear a shout for "Pizza" no not the thai for help but another word signifying help so not to confuse for a real emergency... we have to think fast and act to save the diver... we had tired diver, missing diver, diver unconscious at bottom. Basically even when we were in or out of water we got everything thrown at us not to be expected... plus all 3 of us got cramp at one point so had to rescue ourselves. It was the funniest and best course ever and my diving confidence has gone way up.
then an exam... I got 3 wrong and gavin 1.
WE ARE BOTH NOW RESCUE DIVERS AND GOD HELP ANYONE THAT NEEDS RESCUING.
Posted by alexd at April 28, 2004 12:22 PMHi Alex,Spoke to your mum so thought I would post a message. I'm Glad to see you are having fun. Dont worry about all us at home working for a living, you just go on enjoying yourself. If you have some pictures of your trip I would love to see them.
Regards
Ray
Posted by: Ray Tape at May 18, 2004 03:58 PM