OPTIONAL MATERIAL

The following are examples of subject matter which the instructor may wish to include in his basic diving medicine training, refresher classes, or both.  Each classes suitability for options will depend on previous training, diving location, ability to learn quickly, employer and industry, and interest in peripheral material.  The instructor should try to keep his training relevant to the needs and abilities of each class

Options should not be included at the expense of core lecture material, practice sessions and sham treatments.  The instructor should satisfy himself that the class is mastering the basic material and save options for students with special needs, or where the pace of instruction is clearly moving faster than expected, or allow extra time in scheduling the entire course

     1.  Marine hazards
          a. common marine hazards in the local area
          b. signs, symptoms, acute treatment of each

     2. Environmental accidents
         a. emergency management of near-drowning
         b. emergency management of hyper-, hypo-thermia

     3. Carbon dioxide toxicity

     4. Topical medicine

     5. Ear hygiene, otitis externa

     6. Review of basic life support, non-diving emergency medicine

     7. Review of gas laws, diving physics and physiology

Concerning review material, the instructor may prefer to utilize assignments sent to the students prior to class, particularly for diving physics and gas laws