Take This Month's Quiz on Hazardous Marine Life

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/quiz/hazardous-marine-life-quiz

Here's the link to this month's Safety Quiz. It follows nicely if you have taken the time to look at the "Scourge of the Lionfish" video that Monster sent out earlier. There are a lot of things that can stick you, bite you and it's best to be prepared to know what to look for and learn what not to touch! I don't know how many times I have almost been tagged by a scorpion fish as they have impeccable camoflage that makes them damned near impossible to see until they spread their "wings". Enjoy!  Your Safety Officer- r2

Recalled Hi-Pressure Hoses

Back in November I reported a recall on hi-pressure hoses used in scuba diving. Some of those hoses were manufactured out west and overseas. This recent recall may be related to what I reported earlier, but gives a better description of the issue and comes from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and is for a specific lot of hoses that were manufactured. If you have purchased a new HP hose recently you may want to take a look at it and see if it has any of the markings associated with the defected lot. Thanks Dave Martin for passing this to me. v/r r2 Your Safety Officer




http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml13/13090.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2013 Release #13-090

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 352-2360 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

High-Pressure Scuba Diving Air Hoses Recalled by A-Plus Marine Due to Drowning Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: High-pressure scuba diving air hoses

Units: About 40

Importer: A-Plus Marine Supply, Inc., of Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Hazard: The diving hose that connects the regulator to the tank's pressure gauge can separate reducing the available air supply to the diver, posing a drowning hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: A-Plus has received three reports of hoses separating. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled air hoses are high-pressure scuba air hoses with a black, smooth rubber outer covering. They are about half a centimeter in diameter and 32 or 36 inches long. These hoses connect the regulator to the tank pressure gauge. The phrase "Scuba Diving High Pressure hose I.D. 3/16" (4.76 mm) W.P. 5000 PSI Exceeds SAE 100RT braid with Kevlar fiber from Dupont" is printed in white lettering on the hose's outer covering. The hoses have metal fittings on each end. "CE EN 250 230" is stamped on the female side of the fitting and "12Q1" on the male side.

Sold at: Scuba diving retailers nationwide from April 2012 through June 2012 for about $34.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the hoses and contact A-Plus Marine for a free replacement hose.

Consumer Contact: A-Plus Marine; at (800) 352-2360, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or online at www.aplusmarine.com and click on the recall notice on High Pressure Braided Hose Safety Recall. Consumers can also send an email to eric@aplusmarine.com for more information.

A-Plus Marine high-pressure scuba diving air hose



“CE EN 250 230” is stamped on the female fitting



“12Q1” is stamped on the male fitting

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov

Happy Safe Year!

Happy New Year to everyone and Happy Safe Year as well! Our club pride's itself on our safety record and that comes through the training that we provide, opportunities to advance our certifications through rescue training, search & recovery, etc. Sometimes it's even a good idea for us older godgers to remediate ourselves with some of that training as well. This month take a look at the quiz and see how well you can answer the questions. Also if you have not becomne a DAN member yet please go to the DAN website and look what they have to offer. It's well worth the investment and to have peace of mind when you are out on a dive boat or shore diving in CONUS or outside CONUS. See you Wednesday!  v/r Your Safety Officer R2

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/quiz/picture_quiz

Basic Life Support

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/quiz/blsfa

Here is this month's quiz that all of should do well on if we have had the pleasure of taking CPR & First Aid w/J.J. & Vera. Hopefully we will never have to use it, but you never know when you might get called into action. So take a course if you have not already. Don't forget to get O2 certified as well in the event you are reqd to assist in a diving incident like AGE, DCI, etc. 

Dippy Diver & Coprolite- Fun to Learn From Our Faux Pas'

I wanted to post a blog to explain again the reason for the monthly call for nominations for the "Dippy Diver" and the "Coprolite" awards. Over this year there have been very few nominations for either. It's not because we have not been diving, but I think there is a belief that you are "ratting" out a partner. The Dippy Diver is for somewhat goofy things that we do that are not necessarily safety related ot they would be in the Coprolite category. Some examples include instead of driving to WPB Major & I thought it would be fun to drive all over the friggin state looking for a place to dive. I don't believe we ever dove, but drove 400 miles that day trying to. How about a mis-communication on who's picking up who for a dive only to leave the person stranded. I think it's a good thing for us to laugh at ourselves.

On a more serious note the Coprolite nominations are more for safety faux pas's we have made during a dive, like towing the dive flag underwater vice on top as it is supposed to be visible to boaters; jumping in the water and after struggling to descend realize that you forgot your weight belt or not checking to see if your air is turned on only to jump in and take a very non-existent inhalation on your regulator. Although these sound like things you might want to talk about iat a meeting they are constant reminder that we can make mistakes and hopefully by sharing those stories all of us can learn and think about what we can continue to do to be safe divers. That is one of our biggest mantras we have is that we teach safety, promote safety and practice safety! Let's all step up and bring some nominations to the meetings. No need to be embarassed! No one is going to think less of you! I know I have had my share of both as many in the club have. See you at the meeting! r2

Did He or Didn't He?

http://www.cdnn.info/special-report/gabe_watson/gabe_watson.html

I normally would not ask that any of you watch the Lifetime Network, but Saturday nite @ 8PM Lifetime will air "Fatal Honeymoon" that is based on the true story of Gabe Watson  and his wife who mysteriously died while diving in Australia on their honeymoon. If you watch I hope you enjoy. I'll be watching!  v/r rick

I Can't EAR You

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/Medsim/Ears

We always hear about various squeezes when we dive; mask squeeze, sinus squeeze, but probably the most prevalent is ear squeeze. Don't equalize from the start of your descent and you could blow an eardrum. Worse yet you could damage your anvil, stirrup, coclea, semi-circular canals. What the heck am I talking about you say? Well if you take a few minutes to look at the link I have provided you get an excellent simulation of what the ear is all about! Understand a little of the physiology of the ear and it might help you when you feel squeezed.  Ciao!