Oxygen Administration Award

AIM

To teach the administration of oxygen as a means of increasing the effectiveness of First Aid treatment of diving accidents.

It is implicit in this definition that the treatment takes place on the surface, either in a boat or on dry land. There is no question of administering oxygen to a submerged diver.

INSTRUCTORS

Instructors must be BSAC QIs (can be CI or TI) who have previously attended the BSAC Oxygen Administration Course.
One instructor for every six students.

FACILITIES

A suitable classroom for theory lessons, and with enough space to spread resuscitation manikins and oxygen equipment for practical lessons.

The practical lessons will require students to work in pairs. The following equipment will be required for each pair:

• a resuscitation manikin
• a complete set of oxygen equipment

The oxygen equipment must conform to the following specification:-

a. standard oxygen cylinders, size 'D' or 'E'
b. oxygen regulator incorporating a contents gauge and providing an outlet capable of delivering
a constant flow of 10 litres/minute.
c. demand mask unit comprising hose, demand valve and face piece.
d. pocket mask, incorporating an oxygen connection elbow, and a suitable hose for the delivery of a constant flow of 10 litres/minute of oxygen.

ADMINISTRATION

Standard SDC administration procedures apply. The current procedure can be found on the BSAC website. A BSAC Oxygen Administration Award Course Student Notes pack must be supplied to each student.

QUALIFICATION

This course concludes with a practical and a theory assessment. Only those who pass these assessments will be able to apply for a qualification card.

Theory assessment papers, and other course report materials, will be supplied to those registered to run the course.

Instructors may sign up lessons DT2 - 7 of Dive Leader course in members' Qualification Record.

SYLLABUS

Instructor briefing

Assemble, Introductions, Administration

1. Practical Lesson - Basic Life Support - (45 mins)

• Solo rescuer
• Two rescuers

2. Practical Lesson - Use of Pocket Mask - (15 mins)

3. Classroom Lesson - Oxygen and Diving Incidents - (50 mins) and how they benefit from oxygen

• Burst Lung
• Decompression Sickness
• Near drowning
• Shock
• Carbon monoxide poisoning

4. Classroom Lesson - Casualty Assessment - (45 mins)

5. Classroom Lesson - Oxygen Administration Equipment - (40 mins)

Break

6. Classroom Lesson - Oxygen Administration in practice - (30 mins)

7. Practical Lesson - Use of Oxygen Administration Equipment - (60 mins)
Assembly

• Administering to a breathing casualty
• Administering to a non-breathing subject with/without cardiac arrest

Positive Pressure Ventilation (if available) - (15 mins)

8. Assessment - Assessment of students' theory knowledge and practical ability in oxygen administration. - (60 mins)

9. Classroom - Open Forum -

• General discussion of subject, course debriefing
• Issue course certification, disperse

Instructor debriefing

NOTES

1. The order in which the syllabus is listed represents the recommended sequence for the course.

2. BSAC HQ will supply comprehensive instructions and assessment papers to course chief instructors.

3. Instructor Notes and visual aids are contained within the Instructor Manual for the Diver Training Programme

4. The BSAC can provide resuscitation manikins and oxygen administration equipment for approved courses run by the BSAC Coaching Scheme. This equipment is not normally available to other parties.