On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers

Approximately two-thirds of divers with decompression illness have evidence of damage to their nervous system. These signs are often vague and can go unrecognized by the diver, causing the symptoms to be dismissed as insignificant or not dive related and the treatment possibly to be delayed.

The On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers focuses on how to obtain essential information about a diver involved in a dive emergency and what information to relay to emergency medical services.

The DAN On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers course is designed to:
 

refresh the knowledge of the warning signs of a dive emergency

identify when it is appropriate to conduct an on-site neurological assessment

conduct an on-site neurological assessment

Only medical professionals should diagnose medical conditions. The information you gather while performing a neurological assessment will be useful to help the dive physician understand the extent of the injury and how it has changed in the time it took to get the diver from the dive site to definitive care.
 

 

Recommended Minimum Hours of Training
Knowledge development (lecture) hours = 1
Skills development (practical) hours = 3

Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
 

understand and identify common warning signs of decompression illness

take a dive history to determine when it is appropriate to conduct a complete on-site neurological assessment

use an on-site neurological assessment slate to conduct a complete on-site neurological assessment
Skill Performance Objectives
To successfully complete the DAN On-Site Neurological Assessment for Divers course, participants must demonstrate skill and confidence in conducting an On-Site Neurological Assessment.

Skills Development
 

Taking a history

Taking vital signs

Mental function

Consciousness

Speech and language

Orientation to time and place

Judgment

Short-term memory

Abstract reasoning

Calculations

Cranial nerves

Eye control

Facial control

Facial sensation

Hearing

Motor function

Shoulders

Biceps

Triceps

Finger spread

Grip strength

Hip flexors

Quadriceps

Hamstrings

Feet

Sensory function

Light touch

Sharp touch

Balance and coordination

Walking

Finger-nose-finger