Inside DDRC Michael Cocks travels to Plymouth for a guided tour of the Diving Diseases Research Centre - and sits in on a Diver Medic course Two incidents early in my diving career convinced me of the need for every diver to have a good knowledge of first aid. The first incident involved a diver trapped in very cold water. The man died, but he might have survived if hot water had been pumped to the middle of his body to raise his core temperature. In the other case, a diver's life was saved because a newly trained diver was able to tell paramedics what to do with a diver suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. The paramedics said that they had not been trained to deal with divers. Why not? Fortunately, since that time cooperation between hospitals and centres such as the Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC) seems to have improved greatly. In the past, I have expressed surprise that divers on Diver Medic courses do not always visit hospitals and practise taking blood and giving injections. Personally, as one who used to dread even receiving an injection, I have hardened myself. On my recent trip to DDRC and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth I even survived a tour of the hospital's mortuary, where a body was being dissected. As you can see, I am prepared to go to almost any length to help improve the lot of the commercial diver! Before describing my visit in detail, I would like to raise a slight worry about the role of Diver Medics. On the North Sea and elsewhere, it is vital that a saturation diver can perform simple medical tasks on his bell partner in an emergency; but this is always done under medical supervision. 'Ship's doctor?' However, in the Middle East a newly trained Diver Medic might be forced effectively to become the "ship's doctor", administering drugs and so on. This cannot be right or safe. So, what is the value of being a qualified Diver Medic? Firstly, it will increase a diver's chance of being employed. Secondly, nothing can be more satisfying than helping a fellow human being or even saving his life. DDRC was set up almost 20 years ago at Fort Bovisand; but about four years ago it moved into a £1.8m purpose-built hyperbaric centre, next to, but independent of, Derriford Hospital. DDRC is a charity, so most of the cost came from donations. About 80 per cent of patients who visit the centre are treated for non-diving-related illnesses. Being under pressure helps speed up the healing of wounds and other injuries, as many a leading football player will confirm. They treat on average about one diver a week, predominately recreational divers. DDRC has a full-time staff of 13 and a doctor in residence. The latter is Dr Phil Bryson, who, with three part-timers, provides a round-the-clock service. Multi-person The centre runs three chambers, one of which is a large multi-person unit, primarily used for treating non-diving medical cases but also capable of dealing with diving emergencies of any category. There are also two linked chambers that can be established as a saturation or wet system with a depth capacity beyond 200 metres. A team of hyperbaric nurses is also always available. DDRC works closely with the British Antarctic Survey team and has close links with a number of overseas professional groups, including some in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. It is at the forefront of diving research, and during my visit it was good to meet Stuart Clough who has been heavily involved in the development of commercial rebreathers. The DDRC building could not be more suitable for the tasks it undertakes; and I was impressed by the dedication of the staff and the close working relationship with Derriford Hospital, which, in addition to allowing students to visit its Accident and Emergency section, may soon enable them to accompany ambulance staff on call-outs. The initial Diver Medic course lasts ten days, with a week's refresher required every three years. There are usually between four and eight students on each course. While I was there, I witnessed a well-staged emergency, with one of the staff apparently having fallen down the stairs, and was particularly impressed by the fake sick! I also attended a lecture by Dr Malcolm Calder, himself a regular sports diver, and I am now able to insert a catheter. A qualified nurse gave a lecture on stitching and injections, and members of staff, including Paul Dart and Harry Thomson, gave other well-illustrated lectures. Debate A separate company, DDRC Professional Services, was set up a year ago, but DDRC itself still depends to some extent on charitable donations. There is an on-going debate as to how quickly the National Health Service should pay for the treatment of divers suffering from the bends. I incline to the view that anyone who embarks on a potentially hazardous leisure pursuit, such as diving or mountaineering, should carry some form of insurance to cover accidents. The cost of insuring commercial divers is very high, but I fear that some system of "charging" may eventually have to be introduced. The post-mortem part of the Diver Medic course is voluntary. Personally, I found it relatively easy to cope with. The whole operation was carried out efficiently, and once the various parts had been examined they were replaced and the body neatly sewn up. One thing commercial diving has taught me is the power of mind over matter. My visit to the mortuary reminded me of my first dive in a tank in commercial gear. I made the mistake of looking down into the murky waters and froze for about half a minute. I decided that, if I wished to continue diving, I would have to overcome this fear. Luckily for me, but not for all in the diving industry, I did. I can thoroughly recommend the Diver Medic course to all commercial divers. High standards in training are now maintained by IMCA, who regularly audit and approve the courses. I am grateful to Director Harry Thomson for his invitation to visit DDRC, and I will make a point of keeping in touch with the work there. Details - DDRC, The Hyperbaric Medical Centre, Tamar Science Park, Davy Road, Plymouth PL6 8BY, UK, Tel: +44 (0)1752 209999.

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