Notices

The ASADA AGM has regrettably been cancelled due to current financial constraints within Defence. Chairman and DO ASADA will attend the BSAC DOC on O5 Dec 09 and the Chairman will attend the Joint Services Policy Advisory Committee meeting at HMS Temeraire on 08 Dec 09.

Notes from both meetings will be promulgated in an “ASADA News Letter” which will also bring ASADA Members up to date with developments in Army and JS Sub-aqua.

Any other questions or concerns on Army Sub-aqua can be submitted and will be answered by phone or e-mail and the best questions and answers will again be included in the News Letter.

The ASADA Committee will meet in Jan/Feb 2010 and club representatives will be invited to attend – fulfilling the mandate to have an annual meeting. ASADA Clubs are asked to submit nominations for Awards; Ormerod Trophy, Best Expedition Report, Best Underwater Photograph/Video, Best Journal Article to the ASADA Secretary by 30 Nov 09. News of the winners will be promulgated in the “ASADA News Letter”.

Decompression Emergency number Scotland

The Scottish Diving Medicine Advice Line changed contact details in 2003 to 0845 408 6008 (24 hrs). The old contact number for the Scottish Diving Medicine Advice Line in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is no longer answered. BSAC publications, including 'Safe Diving', Website and membership cards reflect the correct number.

However, many clubs still have the old details (many in Word Documents etc as Dive Planner or Incident Checklist etc). BSAC HQ has been contacted to ask that we ensure that the above information is known by all clubs. Can we ask all branch officers to check their branch documents and in particular your Websites to update to the correct number and remove any old details from sites.

Once again the old contact number for the Scottish Diving Medicine Advice Line in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (681818) is no longer answered and has been replaced by 0845 408 6008 (24 hrs). Any difficulty in contacting the service - contact the Coastguard on Channel 16 at sea or 999/112 on land. The Royal Navy number for England, Wales and N Ireland remains 07831 151523.

Funds available

ASADA has funds available for 'Registered Clubs' click HERE to visit the Club Membership page.

Joint Services Sub Aqua Diving Centre needs your input

What courses would you like to see run in addition to those currently on offer?
Are there enough courses of each type?
Is there something else that JSSADC could offer that would benefit your unit or club or individual divers?
Any other constructive comments are welcome and will be replied to accordingly.
Please bear in mind that resources are limited, so if you want something costly, something else may have to go.
 
Thoughts to Ginge (JSSADC Rep)
jssadc@asada.org.uk 
 
or via
 
Joint Service Sub-Aqua Diving Centre
Fort Bovisand
Plymouth  PL9 0AB
Tel:  01752 405573
muttleburyr@a.dii.mod.uk

INM's Diving Incident Telephone Advice Line

The Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Division provide a round the clock telephone advice service to support military work diving and military adventurous training diving throughout the world.

Advice on the management of diving incidents, including first aid, evacuation, medical assessment and referral for recompression therapy is also offered to British civilian divers, dive supervisors, doctors and the emergency services.

The Royal Navy ‘Duty Diving Medical Officer (DDMO)’ can be contacted by mobile phone on 07831 151523 (International: +44 7831 151523).

If the DDMO is engaged, on another call, or attending another patient, a voice message can be left so the DDMO can call back. If there is any difficulty making contact, or there appears to be undue delay, the Institute of Naval Medicine Main Gate (Telephone 02392 768020, International +44 2392 768020) has alternative means of making contact.

Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Division - Visit their website.

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.5728

Diving and Accident Statistics

ASADA Registered Clubs are reminded that they need to produce diving and accident statistics for the calendar year (Jan - Dec 06). The return must include the total number of dives conducted and the total number of diving incidents. Diving expedition statistics should be submitted by Division SO2 PATs however, ASADA registered clubs are asked to provide these statistic in addition; dives conducted during expeditions and the incidents which took place on expeditions. These will then be collated to provide an overall total for Clubs across the three services to validate our safety record with organisations such as the HSE. The importance of these returns should not be underestimated and they are to be with the ASADA DO (do@asada.org.uk) by 31 Jan the following year.