Be Pro-Safety
Posted By Divers Alert Network on 9 November 2007
Ready to Dive
The real kicker comes when we don't recognize our own personal limits, and we charge off on a course of action that ultimately demands more than we're capable of. Our abilities can change from day to day, or even from hour to hour.
To make an assessment of our immediate readiness to dive, use the I'M SAFE checklist, adopted from the world of aviation and adapted to the needs of divers. This acronym stands for Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue and Eating (including hydration). If we find ourselves compromised by any of these, we should reconsider our fitness for a dive.
Understanding Attitudes
When it comes to decision-making, the attitude we take toward safety influences our behavior. Certain attitudes may have adverse effects on our decision-making, and therefore compromise our safety. Pilots are taught to identify five such attitudes commonly associated with aircraft accidents. Paired with each of these attitudes are "antidotes" or reminders to help pilots adjust their action and make safe choices. These same attitudes, which follow, apply equally to divers, and the antidotes can be just as helpful in correcting faulty decision-making.
'Anti-Authority'
We see it all too often in diving. This applies to an individual who resents having someone tell him what to do. Such individuals often regard rules and procedures as unnecessary. They may not recognize the need to stay with their buddies, observe no-stop limits or follow other safety-related standard protocols in diving. Failure to follow such rules often leads to incidents, accidents or injuries.
The Antidote: Recognize that the rules, procedures and protocols are there to protect us, and we should follow them.
'Invulnerability'
People who adhere to the next attitude believe that bad things happen to others, not to themselves. Thus, they are more likely to take chances and expose themselves to unnecessary risks. Their actions often catch up with them when they least expect it, possibly endangering themselves and others.
The Antidote: Remind ourselves that bad things could happen to us; we should follow the rules.
'Impulsivity'
Particularly when a situation begins to run amuck, we can observe another attitude: Impulsiveness. A diver may feel a need to do something - anything - immediately. Thus, he might act on the first thing that comes to mind, rather than by carefully considering the alternatives. A diver faced with a free-flowing regulator might immediately bolt for the surface. From day one, virtually all divers should strive to learn better control.
The Antidote: Stop, think, breathe and then act.
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