Emergency Diving Accident Management (EDAM)

2024 TBD

The Emergency Diving Accident Management (EDAM) course is designed to produce more thoroughly educated and competent participants who will leave the course with a deeper understand of the causes, effects, recognition, treatment, and prevention of diving accidents from the planning of dives to the hyperbaric treatment of diving casualties.

If you are a physician, work in emergency medical services; teach, lead, or work in recreational or commercial diving; are interested in volunteering with the Catalina Chamber Crew; or are just an interested diver, the EDAM course at the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber will provide you with information that all divers, and people who manage diving accidents need to know.

Learn about diving accidents that have occurred and what type of events, equipment, or errors lead to the problem. Get an in-depth look at how decompression tables and dive computers are put together and what Doppler bubble detection has to do with current decompression research. Understand the problems and research associated with flying after diving.

Grasp the physiology and pathology of decompression sickness and air embolism injuries. Discover about the effects of nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity and how they play a major role in technical diving operations.

Practice neurological assessments of a diving casualty and understand the importance of oxygen administration, information gathering and efficient communication and coordination with local rescue agencies. Find out what is done with an accident victim upon arrival at a hyperbaric chamber and how hyperbaric treatments are performed and benefit divers.

EDAM video courtesy of Hammerhead Press

Discover first-hand what it’s like to dive in a chamber. Make dives to 60 and 165 fsw. A recent Clearance for Hyperbaric Exposure or diving medical is required. An additional fee of $25, covers both dives.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society and the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

• The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 34.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
• CA Paramedics & MICNs: 20 California Pre-Hospital Care CEU’s
• NBDHMT: 22 CE for DMTs.
• NAUI: 3.4 CEUs

All faculty members and planners participating in continuing medical education activities sponsored by the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber are expected to disclose to the participants any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. Full disclosure of faculty and planner relevant financial relationships will be made at the activity.

The information provided at this CME activity is for Continuing Medical Education purposes only.  The lecture content, statements or opinions expressed however, do not necessarily represent those of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), its affiliates or its employees.

Accommodations and meals are included in the EDAM tuition. EDAM participants will be housed in the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies dorm rooms and apartments. Meals are served in the Institute’s cafeteria.

The $675 fee for EDAM covers tuition, books, room, and board (Sunday pm – Friday noon). The Chamber dives cost an additional $25.

A $100 deposit is required to reserve space in the class.

Refunds must be requested in writing

No refunds will be issued after one month prior to the start of the class!

• Karl E. Huggins: Program Manager – USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber
• Kirsten Hornbeak, MD: Medical Director – USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber & USC+LAC Medical Center ER
• Robert W. Sanders, MD, FACEP: Crew Health and Safety Flight Surgeon – NASA-JSC