K.P. Hole State Park // Rainbow River Dunellon Florida Dive Site // Diving Emergency Preparedness Plan
This is a Diving Emergency Preparedness Plan for SCUBA diving at the KP Hole Park on the Rainbow River near Dunellon, Florida.
CALL 911 FIRST
When speaking to emergency personnel:
“Hello, my name is <your name> I am at KP Hole Park at
9435 SW 190th Avenue Road Dunellon, Florida.
We have a <Non-dive/SCUBA diver> emergency involving <give divers name> the diver has: (choose proper scenario below)
Do not assume that they understand why 100% oxygen may be required for the diving accident victim or that recompression treatment may be necessary.
1. Injured themselves, is conscious, responsive and breathing and has the following injuries: <list injury>
2. Been found on the surface, breathing and unconscious and may be suffering from decompression sickness or lung expansion injuries, there <are|are no> signs of decompression illness present. They are being given oxygen.
3. Been found on the surface, not breathing and unconscious and may be suffering from decompression sickness or lung expansion injuries, there <are|are no> signs of decompression illness present. They are being given oxygen.
4. Been found on the surface, breathing and conscious and may be suffering from decompression sickness or lung expansion injuries, there <are|are no> signs of decompression illness present. They are being given oxygen.
5. Been rescued from <give depth>, is not breathing and may be suffering from decompression sickness or lung expansion injuries, there <are|are no> signs of decompression illness present. They are being given CPR and oxygen.
You are at:
KP Hole Park
9435 SW 190th Avenue Road Dunellon, FL 34432
Phone: (352) 489-3055
YOU ARE NOT AT Rainbow Springs State Park!
DAN 919-684-9111
International Emergency Hotline
(Call local EMS, SIO, POC, etc, then DAN!)
Tell the operator you have a diving emergency. They will connect you immediately or call you back. DAN’s medical staff may make an immediate recommendation or call you back after making arrangements with a local physician or the DAN Regional Coordinator. The coordinator is familiar with chamber facilities in their area, qualified in diving medicine, can make treatment recommendations. This could take 30 minutes.
If the situation is life-threatening, arrange to transport the diver immediately to the nearest local medical facility for immediate stabilization and assessment of their condition.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROCEDURES
Explain the circumstances of the dive incident to the evacuation team, medics and physicians. Do NOT assume that they understand why 100% Oxygen may be required for the diving accident victim or that recompression treatment may be necessary.
- Rescue victim and/or position so the proper procedures may be initiated. Supine (on back) position is recommended.
- Call EMS. Monitor vital signs (resuscitate if necessary).
- Establish (A)irway, (B)reathing and (C)irculation as required. Administer First Aid. Begin cardiopulminary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary.
- Treat for spinal injuries, stop bleeding, treat for shock as required.
- Administer 100% oxygen, if appropriate (in cases of Decompression Illness or Near Drowning). Administer 100% oxygen using an MTV/demand oxygen resuscitator or non-rebreather type mask. If the victim is not nauseated, give clear nonalcoholic/non-caffeinated fluids to drink.
- Activate the local EMS for transport to the nearest appropriate medical facility. If rescue squad is unavailable, transport victim to nearest medical facility.
- Provide rescue and emergency room personnel with details of the accident/injury.
- Contact the Diver’s Alert Network, Coast Guard, EMS or UC Travel Assistance Program as appropriate. Contact Diving Safety Officer (DSO) and Emergency Contact Person as appropriate.
- Gather additional information about the incident.
- Prepare the victim for transport.
- Secure the diver’s gear for inspection. Do no disassemble gear or exhaust air from the system. Close the cylinder valve only. Count and record number of turns required to secure the valve.
Local Officials
Nearest Sheriff’s Office:
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 700 NW 30th Ocala, FL 34475
Phone: (352) 732-8181 main switchboard
Phone: (352) 732-9111 non-emergency press Option #3
Nearest Police Department:
Dunellon Police Department
Address: 12014 S Williams Street, Dunnellon, FL 34432
Phone: (352) 465-8510 Fridays at 4:00 p.m. phone is automatically forwarded to Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Nearest Fire Department:
Dunellon Fire Department
Address: Fire station 20612 W Pennsylvania Avenue, Dunellon. FL 34431
Phone: (352) 465-8594
Nearest Hyperbaric Facilities:
Call DAN. Their preference is to get divers into hospital care with unlimited supply of oxygen, intravenous fluids, and medications. An ER provider needs to rule out other illnesses. The patient needs to be stabilized before transport under medical supervision.
Chambers’ operational status changes regularly due to maintenance, staffing, and patient load; DAN has the most up-to-date contacts.
Nearest Medical Facilities:
Ocala Regional Medical Center – trauma center – Directions Below
Address: 1431 SW 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
Travel time: 37 minutes (24.0 miles)
Phone: (352) 401-1000
Advent Health Ocala Emergency Room – Directions Below
Address: 1500 SW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
Hours: Open 24 hours
Travel time: 34 min (22.4 miles)
Phone: (352-351-7200
West Marion Community Hospital – Directions Below
Address: 4600 SW 46th Ct, Ocala, FL 34474
Hours: Open 24 hours
Travel time: 34 minutes (23.0 miles)
Phone: (352) 291-3000
Local Transportation
Dunnellon Taxi & Car Service
4.5 miles Taxi service
Dunnellon, FL (352) 436-5858
Directions to Medical Facilities:
Ocala Regional Medical Center
Take SW 190th Avenue Rd and SW 83rd Place Rd to US-41 N
5 min (2.0 mi)
Follow FL-40 E to SW 10th St in Ocala
30 min (21.4 mi)
Continue on SW 10th St to your destination
2 min (0.5 mi)
Travel time: 37 minutes (24.0 miles)
1431 SW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
Advent Health Ocala Emergency Room
Head southeast on 190th Ave toward SW Hwy 484/E Pennsylvania Ave
1.0 mi
Turn left onto SW Hwy 484/E Pennsylvania Ave Continue to follow SW Hwy 484
9.1 mi
Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto FL-200
Pass by Wells Fargo Bank (on the left in 9.7 mi)11.2 mi
Turn right onto State Rte 464 E/SW 17th St/SW 20th Ct
Continue to follow State Rte 464 E/SW 17th St
Pass by Valvoline Instant Oil Change (on the left in 0.3 mi)
1.2 mi
Turn left onto S Pine Ave
0.2 mi
Turn right onto SW 14th St
302 ft
Continue straight Destination will be on the right
187 ft
Travel time: 34 min (22.4 miles)
Address: 1500 SW 1st Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
West Marion Community Hospital
Follow SW 81st Place Rd to US-41 N
6 min (1.5 mi)
Follow FL-40 E to SW 60th Ave in Ocala
19 min (16.0 mi)
Follow SW 60th Ave, SW 38th St and 48th Ave to your destination
10 min (4.8 mi)
Total: 28 min (18.4 miles)
via SW Hwy 484 and FL-200
Fastest route, the usual traffic
Travel time: 34 minutes (23.0 miles)
Address: 4600 SW 46th Ct, Ocala, FL 34474
Divers Alert Network
24/7 Diving Emergency (Call local EMS, SIO POC, then DAN!)
1-919-684-9111
DAN Non-Emergency Diving Questions and all other DAN services
1-800-446-2671
Available M-F, 9 am – 8 pm EST
Medical Consultation Information
Note: The organization listed below will provide detailed medical consultation information for medical problems unique to diving.
Divers Alert Network (D.A.N.): 1-919-684-4326 (collect emergency calls accepted)
Diving Accident Emergency Management Plan
A diving accident victim is any person who has been breathing air underwater regardless of depth. It is essential that emergency procedures are pre-planned and medical treatment is initiated as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the “Lead Diver” to develop procedures for such emergencies including evacuation and medical treatment for each dive location.
Bleeding Control Kit Location
There is a _______________________________ (type of kit, color)
Located _________________________________ (put your info here)
It is about the size of ________________________ (football? microwave?)
It contains ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Ours is in a red nylon bag with “MyMedic +” on it. It is the size of a toaster. On the outside are trauma shears. It contains nitrile gloves, CAT tourniquets, wound packing and dressing, chest seals, duct tape, elastic bandages, and an emergency blanket.
Oxygen, AED Locations
There is oxygen _____________NO____________________ (location)
There is an AED _____________NO____________________ (location)
Diver List, Emergency Contacts, Info
The list of all divers diving today with emergency contacts and particulars for each one.
The list is ________________________________________(location)
We put ours underneath our Bleeding Control Kit.
Special Notes for This Location
Note: I was told that the nearest area available for a Life Flite evacuation was the parking lot at the local Winn Dixie shopping center. If anyone has any information, please share it in the comments below. I feel like that is information I should include.
Training and Supplies:
What’s Your Plan?
My dive partner and I discussed publishing this – we had concerns this information could become out of date or deter someone from forming their own plan. Ultimately, it is the diver who is responsible for their own plan.
I encourage you to seek additional training beyond basic First Aid and CPR. You are the help until the help arrives, and sometimes you are diving somewhere pretty far from help.
Crisis Medicine offers excellent bleeding control training. Just follow my link and use my code “DeepWH” for 20% off the Tactical Casualty Care TC2 online course.
You can find a good First Aid kit to take everywhere you dive – The Boat Medic First Aid Kit from MyMedic is a good start. Use my code “KimW” for 10% off. Add a couple of CAT tourniquets made by North American Rescue, and you are more prepared for all your travels and activities.
Don’t forget to be a responsible diver; use only reef- and coral-larvae-safe Sunscreen. Stream2Sea is the best because it’s all that, plus completely biodegradable containers. Use my code “KimW” for 10% off.
Links:
K.P. Hole Park, Marion County Midway down the page, you can click on “Rules and FAQ’s” for more info.
General Emergency Procedures adapted from Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Diving Regulations for SCUBA from the Marine Biological Laboratory at The University of Chicago
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Diving Emergency Assistance Plan
Kraken Springs Diving Accident Management Procedures
PADI How Good Is Your Emergency Plan?
DAN How Good Is Your Dive Emergency Action Plan?
DIVE.in – Safer Diving: Team Emergency Planning for Scuba Diving
Emergency Hyperbaric Chambers list – Civilian and Military – from Navy.mil
The UHMS clinical hyperbaric medicine facility accreditation program recognizes hyperbaric facilities that demonstrate their commitment to patient care and facility safety.
What to Read Next: 7 Items for Dive Boat Survival – The Prepared Diver
And: Finding a Good Bleeding Control Kit for Your Office or Classroom (or Dive Bag!)
What to Watch Next: The Best Coral Reef Safe Mineral Sunscreen – Not Banned // Deep Water Happy
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Updated May 7, 2019 and May 15, 2019
