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Telephone: 0418 932
798 ABN 26 201 855 9000 |
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The Val Lishman Health Research Foundation Inc
is pleased to be involved with supporting current research focusing on
UNDERWATER DIVING INJURIES
Together we can contribute to providing better health for the South West
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Origins of the research
Underwater diving is a popular and growing sport in the South West. Dive wrecks located around the coast and fishing opportunities attract divers to the region. The sport is subsequently implicated in supporting local tourism and therefore has economic importance for the South West region.
At present there is no systematic collection of information on the number, nature, demography and distribution of underwater diving injuries sustained in the South West region. This is despite injuries associated with underwater diving not being uncommon. Such injuries are often associated with a significant personal cost to divers in terms of causing death or permanent disability. Of particular concern is decompression sickness , or 'the bends', which requires prompt admission to a decompression chamber. However, as the only decompression chamber available in the state is situated in Fremantle, divers who sustain injuries in the South West experience a delay in gaining access to treatment aimed at minimising long term health problems.
Scope and current status of the research
Peter Buzzacott, a Master's student of Public Health at the UWA School of Population Health, is conducting a survey of underwater diving injuries sustained in Western Australia. Peter hopes to provide a basis for a review of diver training and the health care available to injured divers, as well as gain insight into the demography and causes of diving injuries.The data collection phase of the research has been completed and is now being analysed.
Implications of the research
The information gained from this research may lead to recommendations for injury prevention and changes to diver training. It may also lead to recommendations for resource allocation for dealing with diving injuries arising in the South West region. The research may facilitate the development of a permanent register of underwater diving injuries and highlight areas in which additional research may be warranted in the future.
Funding
The Val Lishman Health Research Foundation awarded the research project $1000 towards the cost of administering a questionnaire in the South West.
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