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. 2024 Jun 30;54(2):86-91.
doi: 10.28920/dhm54.2.86-91.

Formulating policies and procedures for managing diving related deaths: a whole of state engagement from frontline and hospital services in Tasmania

Elizabeth J Elliott  1   2 , Karl Price  1 , Bernard Peters  3
Affiliations

Formulating policies and procedures for managing diving related deaths: a whole of state engagement from frontline and hospital services in Tasmania

Elizabeth J Elliott et al. Diving Hyperb Med. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Introduction: Tasmania is a small island state off the southern edge of Australia where a comparatively high proportion of the 558,000 population partake in recreational or occupational diving. While diving is a relatively safe sport and occupation, Tasmania has a significantly higher diving death rate per head of population than other States in Australia (four times the national diving mortality rate).

Methods: Three compressed gas diving deaths occurred in seven months between 2021-2022 prompting a review of the statewide approach for the immediate response of personnel to diving-related deaths. The review engaged first responders including the Police Marine and Rescue Service, hospital-based departments including the Department of Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine, and the mortuary and coroner's office.

Results: An aide-mémoire for all craft groups, digitalised checklists for first responders (irrespective of diving knowledge), and a single-paged algorithm to highlight inter-agency communication pathways in the event of a diving death were designed to enhance current practices and collaboration.

Conclusions: If used, these aids for managing diving related deaths should ensure that time-critical information is appropriately captured and stored to optimise information provided for the coronial investigation.

Keywords: Autopsy findings; Diving deaths; Diving incidents; Diving medicine; Forensic pathology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Tasmanian state hospitals and medical facilities involved in the statewide diving related deaths algorithm. Image of the map of Tasmania with hospital locations provided as red spots
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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