Dive Medicine
| Module title | Dive Medicine |
|---|---|
| Module code | HPDM094 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Marc O'Griofa (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 days, June |
Module description
The optional Dive Medicine module will give you the opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge needed to function as a certified diving medical technician.
Module aims - intentions of the module
In this module, you will develop the skills and knowledge required to understand diving medicine. The module takes students to the level of National Board of Diver and Hyperbaric medical diver technician. (NBDHMT). You will develop your understanding of the risks, hazards, technical skills and medical knowledge needed to function safely as a medical provider in this environment. The course covers diving and gas physics review, medical diagnosis and treatment of diving related injuries, management of emergencies, hyperbaric treatment protocols, along with hyperbaric chamber operations and is an excellent introduction to diving medicine.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate an understanding of physiological challenges associated with saturation diving.
- 2. Acquire awareness of knowledge gaps and ongoing critical research
- 3. Critically appraise published research and operational protocols
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the incidence, presentation and approach to typical problems encountered in dive medicine.
- 5. Develop a clear understanding of the role and application of recompression in dive medical problems.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Demonstrate a mature knowledge base and skill level to enable safe inclusion as an active team member in a diving team
- 7. Demonstrate a mature clinical and logical decision making approach to expedition work.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
- Introduction to DMT
- Diving Physics and Gas Laws
- Abnormal Gas Levels
- Oxygen Toxicity
- Non-Pulmonary Barotrauma and Vertigo
- Pulmonary Barotrauma
- Decompression Sickness (DCS)
- Casualty Assessment and Neurological Examination
- USN Treatment Tables
- Saturation DCS, Emergency and Treatment Gasses
- Differential Diagnosis
- Recompression Chamber Operations
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | 255 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 45 | Residential course in a Florida Aquarius Reef base: seminars, master-classes, practical exercises. Practical exercises are scenario based and of evolving complexity and duration, using the reality of the environment to add fidelity. |
| Guided Independent Study | 255 | Reading and preparation for scheduled sessions and coursework. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBDHMT Dive Medical Technician course | This is a certified external qualification that students may sit as a pass/fail exam. It provides formative feedback but does not contribute to the Masters grade | 1-7 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4000 word assignment | 70 | 4000 words | 1-7 | Written |
| 2000 word assignment | 30 | 2000 words | 1-7 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4000 word assignment (70%) | 4000 word assignment | 1-7 | Typically within six weeks of receiving original feedback |
| 2000 word assignment (30%) | 2000 word assignment | 1-7 | Typically within six weeks of receiving original feedback |
Re-assessment notes
Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine. 2nd Edition Chris Johnson, Sarah R Anderson, Jon Dallimore, Chris Imray, Shane Winser, James Moore and David A. Warrell—
Oxford University Press,
May 2015.
ISBN: 978-01-996-88418-0
Daugherty's Field Guide to the Diver Medic (2013)
Coastal Aquatics Pubns;
ISBN-10: 9993120596
US Navy Dive Manual Revision 7 (2017)
https://www.pdta.com.au/us-navy-dive-manual-revision-7/
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 04/07/2019 |
| Last revision date | 24/07/2019 |
