Please read carefully before signing.
This is a statement in which you are informed of some potential risks involved in scuba diving and of the conduct required of you during the scuba training program. Your signature on this statement is required for you to participate in the scuba training program. Read this statement prior to signing it. You must complete this Medical Statement, which includes the medical questionnaire section, to enroll in the scuba training program. In addition, if your medical condition changes at any time during your scuba programs it is important that you inform your instructor immediately. If you are a minor, you must have this Statement signed by a parent or guardian. Diving is an exciting and demanding activity. When performed correctly, applying correct techniques, it is relatively safe. When established safety procedures are not followed, however, there are increased risks. To scuba dive safely, you should not be extremely overweight or out of condition. Diving can be strenuous under certain conditions. Your respiratory and circulatory systems must be in good health. All body air spaces must be normal and healthy. A person with coronary disease, a current cold or congestion, epilepsy, a severe medical problem or who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs should not dive. If you have asthma, heart disease, other chronic medical conditions or you are taking medications on a regular basis, you should consult your doctor and the instructor before participating in this program, and on a regular basis thereafter upon completion. You will also learn from the instructor the important safety rules regarding breathing and equalization while scuba diving. Improper use of scuba equipment can result in serious injury. You must be thoroughly instructed in its use under direct supervision of a qualified instructor to use it safely. If you have any additional questions regarding this Medical Statement or the Medical Questionnaire section, review them with your instructor before signing.
6 Diver’s Medical Questionnaire
To the Participant:
The purpose of this Medical Questionnaire is to find out if you should be examined by your doctor before participating in recreational diver training. A positive response to a question does not necessarily disqualify you from diving. A positive response means that there is a preexisting condition that may affect your safety while diving and you must seek the advice of your physician prior to engaging in dive activities. Please answer the following questions on your past or present medical history with a YES or NO. If you are not sure, answer YES. If any of these items apply to you, we must request that you consult with a physician prior to participating in scuba diving. Your instructor will supply you with an RSTC Medical Statement and Guidelines for Recreational Scuba Diver’s Physical Examination to take to your physician.
_____ Could you be pregnant, or are you attempting to become pregnant?
_____ Are you presently taking prescription medications? (with the exception of birth control or anti-malarial)
_____ Are you over 45 years of age and can answer YES to one or more of the following?
• currently smoke a pipe, cigars or cigarettes
• have a high cholesterol level
• have a family history of heart attack or stroke
• are currently receiving medical care
• high blood pressure
• diabetes mellitus, even if controlled by diet alon
Have you ever had or do you currently have…
_____ Asthma, or wheezing with breathing, or wheezing with exercise?
_____ Frequent or severe attacks of hayfever or allergy?
_____ Frequent colds, sinusitis or bronchitis? _____ Any form of lung disease?
_____ Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)? _____ Other chest disease or chest surgery?
_____ Behavioral health, mental or psychological problems (Panic attack, fear of closed or open spaces)?
_____ Epilepsy, seizures, convulsions or take medications to prevent them?
_____ Recurring complicated migraine headaches or take medications to prevent them?
_____ Blackouts or fainting (full/partial loss of consciousness)?
_____ Frequent or severe suffering from motion sickness (seasick, carsick, etc.)?
_____ Dysentery or dehydration requiring medical intervention?
_____ Any dive accidents or decompression sickness?
_____ Inability to perform moderate exercise (example: walk 1.6 km/one mile within 12 mins.)?
_____ Head injury with loss of consciousness in the past five years?
_____ Recurrent back problems?
_____ Back or spinal surgery?
_____ Diabetes?
_____ Back, arm or leg problems following surgery, injury or fracture?
_____ High Blood Pressure or Take Medicine to control Blood Pressure?
_____ Heart disease?
_____ Heart attack?
_____ Angina, heart surgery or blood vessel surgery?
_____ Sinus surgery?
_____ Ear disease or surgery, hearing loss or problems with balance?
_____ Recurrent ear problems?
_____ Bleeding or other blood disorders?
_____ Hernia?
_____ Ulcers or ulcer surgery ?
_____ A colostomy or ileostomy?
_____ Recreational drug use or treatment for, or alcoholism in the past five years?
The information I have provided about my medical history is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand it is my responsibility to inform my instructor of any and all changes to my medical history at any time during my participation in scuba programs. I agree to accept responsibility for omissions regarding my failure to disclose any existing or past health condition, or any changes thereto.
6.1 Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding
This is a statement in which you are informed of the established safe diving practices for skin and scuba diving. These practices have been compiled for your review and acknowledgement and are intended to increase your comfort and safety in diving. Your signature on this statement is required as proof that you are aware of these safe diving practices. Read and discuss the statement prior to signing it. If you are a minor, this form must also be signed by a parent or guardian. I understand that as a diver I should:
1. Maintain good mental and physical fitness for diving. Avoid being under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs when diving. Keep proficient in diving skills, striving to increase them through continuing education and reviewing them in controlled conditions after a period of diving inactivity, and refer to my course materials to stay current and refresh myself on important information.
2. Be familiar with my dive sites. If not, obtain a formal diving orientation from a knowledgeable, local source. If diving conditions are worse than those in which I am experienced, postpone diving or select an alternate site with better conditions. Engage only in diving activities consistent with my training and experience. Do not engage in cave or technical diving unless specifically trained to do so.
3. Use complete, well-maintained, reliable equipment with which I am familiar; and inspect it for correct fit and function prior to each dive. Have a buoyancy control device, low-pressure buoyancy control inflation system, submersible pressure gauge and alternate air source and dive planning/monitoring device (dive computer, RDP/dive tables—whichever you are trained to use) when scuba diving. Deny use of my equipment to uncertified divers.
4. Listen carefully to dive briefings and directions and respect the advice of those supervising my diving activities. Recognize that additional training is recommended for participation in specialty diving activities, in other geographic areas and after periods of inactivity that exceed six months.
5. Adhere to the buddy system throughout every dive. Plan dives – including communications, procedures for reuniting in case of separation and emergency procedures – with my buddy.
6. Be proficient in dive planning (dive computer or dive table use). Make all dives no decompression dives and allow a margin of safety. Have a means to monitor depth and time underwater. Limit maximum depth to my level of training and experience. Ascend at a rate of not more than 18 metres/60 feet per minute. Be a SAFE diver – Slowly Ascend From Every dive. Make a safety stop as an added precaution, usually at 5 metres/15 feet for three minutes or longer.
7. Maintain proper buoyancy. Adjust weighting at the surface for neutral buoyancy with no air in my buoyancy control device. Maintain neutral buoyancy while underwater. Be buoyant for surface swimming and resting. Have weights clear for easy removal, and establish buoyancy when in distress while diving. Carry at least one surface signaling device (such as signal tube, whistle, mirror).
8. Breathe properly for diving. Never breath-hold or skip-breathe when breathing compressed air, and avoid excessive hyperventilation when breath-hold diving. Avoid overexertion while in and underwater and dive within my limitations.
9. Use a boat, float or other surface support station, whenever feasible.
10. Know and obey local dive laws and regulations, including fish and game and dive flag laws.I have read the above statements and have had any questions answered to my satisfaction.
10. I understand the importance and purposes of these established practices. I recognize they are for my own safety and well-being, and that failure to adhere to them can place me in jeopardy when diving.