Course Description
Diver Fatality Investigations and Incident Prevention
Learn about investigative procedures, what happens at autopsy, and why these cases can be so challenging. Then apply this information to improve early accident recognition and injury/fatality prevention. We will also discuss what to do if you witness, or are involved in, a dive accident.
Two important missions of diving fatality investigation are preventing future similar occurrences and helping to insure that justice occurs from civil suits and criminal prosecutions. This workshop is useful for anyone who is interested in either mission and for dive professionals who want to be better prepared to prevent and manage possible litigation. The workshop will consist of the steps and procedures that are used to investigate diver fatalities, including: What Information is analyzed and why; how to read autopsy reports -- what they can and can’t tell us; law enforcement and death investigation reports; witness statements; data collection from dive logs and what questions to ask; environment variables; dive equipment tests; evaluation of dive leaders, dive boat buddies, and more.
Who should attend:
Dive leaders, public safety divers, law enforcement, medicolegal death investigators, and advanced divers will gain invaluable knowledge about dive accident prevention, early recognition, and investigation. You need to know what to document, what evidence to secure, and what to get from witnesses. Increase safety and decrease liability.
Due to the sensitive nature of this course, there are graphic pictures in the video webinar.
Specialist Instructor
Andrea Zaferes
With 31 years working in the fields of diving education, diving rescue and fatality investigation, 27 years in the public safety dive/water rescue community, 20 years in aquatic fatality investigations and 14 years working as a medicolegal death investigator for Dutchess County Medical Examiner office, Andrea works with TeamLGS teaching fire, law enforcement, EMS, death investigators, prosecutors, and military personnel. She is a noted innovator in aquatic death investigation. Andrea is the NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services Aquatic Death Investigation Instructor, has more than 100 publications, is an aquatic consultant for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, has presented at more than 175 forensic, diving and rescue conferences, has taught over 5,000 law enforcement/death investigators in her Aquatic Death and Homicidal Drowning Investigation program series, and serves as a body-found-in-water expert witness. Andrea has received national and international awards such as the DAN-Rolex Diver of the Year and Beneath the Sea Diver of the Year.
Course curriculum
-
1
Introduction
-
Introduction to Diver Fatality Investigations and Incident Prevention
FREE PREVIEW -
Forensic Diving Fatality Investigation Webinar video
-
Diving Incident Investigation
-
DAN Ascent Rates
-
What Sport Divers Can Learn from PSD Divers
-
Knowledge Review Assessment
-
Reviews
Title is very descriptive of the course content.
Joseph Shambo
The course text was very good for a member of a dive team / EMS agency with some prerequisite knowledge (ie. previous SCUBA training and EMS background). Ob...
Read MoreThe course text was very good for a member of a dive team / EMS agency with some prerequisite knowledge (ie. previous SCUBA training and EMS background). Obviously this class is not ideal for someone without this or similar background. Overall, I found this class to be an excellent refresher, and introduction of some additional material.
Read LessDiver Fatality Investigations and Incident Prevention
Charlene Greco
This material is new to me and I learned a lot. Comments on "PSD Tricks of the Trade": Pony Regulator: I wear my Octo on a bungee neck strap with regulato...
Read MoreThis material is new to me and I learned a lot. Comments on "PSD Tricks of the Trade": Pony Regulator: I wear my Octo on a bungee neck strap with regulator securely held, so the recommendation of having a pony neck strap would be too much cluster around my neck, therefore, I have it accessible under my right arm where tank is placed. What's you opinion of this? BCD Inflator hose placement - I can't visualize this, a picture would be helpful. Cutting tools - mentions attachment to a diver harness is an option, would this be the same as a weight harness? Part II - Currents - is this to be continued?
Read LessRichard Miller
Interesting and engaging
Barrie McPhilbin
Gives you an insight and things to think about with your own diving and the safety of others. Nice online course
Gives you an insight and things to think about with your own diving and the safety of others. Nice online course
Read LessFascinating insight, useful to reflect on own diving prac...
Laura Walton
This course is a fascinating insight into the process and perspective of forensic examination of incidents in diving. Andrea's experience and expertise mean...
Read MoreThis course is a fascinating insight into the process and perspective of forensic examination of incidents in diving. Andrea's experience and expertise means that the webinar recording is packed full of facts and observations that members of the diving community would not normally hear about. The stories and factors leading to dive incidents bring a unique perspective which is useful to apply when reflecting on our own diving practices. The questions are helpful in checking your learning.
Read Less