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Egg Yolk Jelly, with barnacles, Alepas pacifica, on top of bell. Caption Courtesy: Kevin Lee
Used with Permission
Photo: Volker Kilian/Used with Permission
San Diego diver Jim Ridgway and his dive buddy Raleigh Moody went deep this week off the coast of La Jolla to document a rare type of sponge which only grows below 150 ft off the coast here. See here for more, plus the video: http://www.examiner.com/x-38501-San-Diego-Scuba-Diving-Examiner~y2010m7d30-San-Diego-divers-go-deep-for-rare-Vase-sponges
ATLANTA (AP) — More bystanders are willing to attempt CPR if an emergency dispatcher gives them firm and direct instructions — especially if they can just press on the chest and skip the mouth-to-mouth, according to new research.
The two new studies conclude that “hands-only” chest compression is enough to save a life. They are the largest and most rigorous yet to suggest that breathing into a victim’s mouth isn’t needed in most cases.
The American Heart Association has been promoting hands-only CPR for two years, though it’s not clear how much it’s caught on. The new studies should encourage dispatchers and bystanders to be more aggressive about using the simpler technique
See here for more: http://tinyurl.com/3xpkp9o
Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning....
See: http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/
The Facts About this Silent Killer
The Instinctive Drowning Response, a term coined by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people instinctively do to avoid suffocation when drowning. The responses to drowning are undramatic and surprisingly quiet. Drownings are the leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4. Even scarier is that in a small but significant percentage of kids’ drownings, an adult will have watched the whole process, not having a clue what was happening (Source:CDC).
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like What You’d Expect
Dr. Pia, in an article entitled “It Doesn’t Look Like They’re Drowning” featured in the Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine (Fall 06), describes the typical drowning response as follows: “Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled before speech occurs. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouth of a drowning person is not above the surface of the water long enough to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning person’s mouth is above the surface, she exhales and inhales quickly as her mouth starts to sink below the surface of the water. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.”
Signs of Drowning
Watch for these signs the next time you’re swimming with your kids or others: * Head low in the water, mouth at water level * Head tilted back with open mouth * Hair over forehead or eyes * Eyes glassy, empty and unable to focus * Eyes closed * Hyperventilating or gasping * Not using legs * Body is vertical and upright * Trying to swim in a certain direction but not making progress * Trying to roll over on the back
Stay Aware to Save a Life
Keep your eyes open for any oddities because even when things seem ok, they may not be. A good way to be sure is to ask your kid or the person you’re swimming with if he or she is all right. If they are rather still, do not answer or have a blank stare, then you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them! As any parent knows, kids make noise in the water. If they are not making noise, find out why and get them out of the water ASAP.
For more information on water safety issues, check out www.facebook.com/watersafe ty.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oceana, the world’s largest international conservation organization focused solely on protecting and restoring the world’s oceans, announced today its partnership with Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, which premieres Sunday, August 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
“Sharks deserve widespread attention not only because they are fascinating but also because they are in terrible trouble – each year industrial fishing kills more than 100 million sharks a year ,” said Andy Sharpless, CEO of Oceana. “We applaud Discovery Channel’s efforts to make Shark Week’s millions of viewers know about the threats to sharks, and the need for better policies to protect sharks.”
Discovery is helping Oceana educate the American public about the plight of sharks – and what people can do to help – through blogs, social media outlets and public service announcements that will air each night during primetime. Viewers can look for a PSA for Oceana featuring Craig Ferguson, host of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=31071940568
Courtesy of Jean Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society: http://www.oceanfutures.org/
Featuring Pelagic Jellies of the Deep
