(DiverWire) The Beneath the Sea Show will be presenting a series of Public Safety Diver programs on March 23, 2012, in advance of the annual scuba diving consumer show. This segment of the dive industry is one of the fastest growing in the country. For more details on the conference, go to www.BeneaththeSea.org.
Here is an overview of some of the topics being presented:
NFPA Contaminated Water Diving Standards
NFPA 1953 is ready to go out for comment. This seminar will address the questions of how the new proposed standard affect you and how you can get involved in the final development of the standard. Presented by:Faith Ortins of DUI and Captain James Murray FDNY Faith Ortins is the Vice President in charge of sales for Diving Unlimited International. She has experience in scientific, technical, and volunteer public safety diving. Her current work with NOAA includes developing a complete contaminated water diving system. She is also working on standards for contaminated water diving equipment.James Murray is the Captain of Rescue Company 5 FDNY. He is a NAUI and SSI instructor with the FDNY SCUBA Unit. James is a member of the NFPA Committee for Special Operation Gear and Equipment and currently working with a sub group of this committee creating a draft for NFPA 1953 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Contaminated Water Diving.
What Can We Learn From Success Stories In Public Safety Diving.
Public Safety Diving fatality statistics have allowed the PSD community to identify trends and implement safety measures. Consequently the number of PSD deaths has decreased in recent years but a new disturbing trend is emerging. Let’s learn from the past so we can work towards a safer future. Presented by: Blades Robinson of IADRS … began his Public Safety Diving career in 1980 and presently serves on the Board of Directors for Dive Rescue International and is the Executive Director of the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists, a non-profit organization dedicated to Public Safety Diving safety and reducing line of duty deaths.
Managing the Scene
Learn how surface support personnel can make all the difference in safety and effectiveness for a dive team. Presented by: Shawn Harrison of ERDI … is the Regional Manager at International Training for (SDI, TDI & ERDI). ERDI is the Public Safety diving agency that trains Police, Fire and other public safety organizations in Search and Rescue Techniques in just about every submerged environment known. ERDI trains departments on how to make and maintain their own PSD teams. All ERDI programs are OSHA and NFPA compliant.
Using Surface Supply Systems To Minimize Your Risk As A Dive Team
One of the biggest risks Public Safety divers face is the possibility of an out of air emergency. Is surface supplied air a possible benefit to your team’s safety and operational readiness? Bengt Kjellberg from Interspiro will discuss this topic and demonstrate how safe and easy surface supply can be. Presented by: Bengt Kjellberg of Interspiro … is the Vice President for Business Development at Interspiro, in charge of the Diving Division. He joined AGA Spiro in Sweden to develop their worldwide military dive program. He helped develop military dive training for clearance of acoustic and magnetic bottom distance mines, oxygen re-breather use and advanced, compressed-air diving systems.
Integrating Rovs With Side Scan Sonar To Maximize Effectiveness
Erick Estrada will discuss how ROV technology can increase the efficiency and safety of dive teams. He will demonstrate how to best utilize these emerging technologies as well as discuss their realistic limitations using real life examples. Presented by: Erick Estrada of Videoray … is the Sales Manager for VideoRay the world’s leading micro-ROV manufacturer. He has more than 9 years experience supporting Search and Recovery activities. He has helped organizations build up their Search and Recovery locker with different underwater tools to assist local and state law enforcement agencies.
The Managing of the Physical and the Mental Demands of Public Safety Diving
Medical and physical complications are the number one contributing factor to public safety diver fatalities. Tom Greenhalgh is a recognized expert in this field and a long time PS diver from Massachusetts. He is working with the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society to develop a medical standard for public safety divers to go along with the physical fitness standard recently implemented by NFPA Presented by: Tom Greenhalgh of NPSS …. has been in Public Safety Diving for over 24 years as a team leader and trainer of a regional volunteer dive rescue team, a representative to the UHMS Public Safety Diving Standards review committee, a Corporate Trainer for Dive Rescue International, and more.
This conference is held as part of the Beneath the Sea Show at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Seacaucus, NJ. Presentations begin at 9:00 AM and doors open for on-site tickets sales at 8:30 AM. Lunch is provided for all ticket holders. The PSD Conference ticket also includes entrance to the Exhibit Floor on Friday evening (6PM to 9PM), admission to the Technical Diving Seminars and the Tec/Wreck Party after the show in the Embassy Suites Hotel.
Beneath the Sea is a not-for-profit and more speaker bio’s, information and ticketing is available on the BTS website at www.BeneathTheSea.org.
You can also email Jeff Heim, a Senior Director for the Beneath the Sea Show, directly at jeffh31903@gmail.com
