The administration of oxygen is a way of increasing the effectiveness of first aid treatment for diving accidents. Being qualified in its use gives you the confidence to treat a diving-related injury either on a boat or on dry land.
O2 Admin consolidates the life support skills taught in BSAC’s Diver Training Programme. I found the course invaluable and now know that I could effectively respond in a real life situation. I’m also keeping my skills up to date and passing them on by teaching the course in my club.
- Carol Wood, iDive (Ipswich SAC)
The Oxygen Administration course is for you if you want to gain skills and experience in rescue techniques and diving first aid. During the course you will get plenty of experience in assessing and treating simulated casualties in different scenarios.
Oxygen Administration training requires you to have previous training in Basic Life Support (BLS) techniques, such as gained during Sports Diver training, or other agency equivalent.
Don’t worry if you don’t have this as there is an optional foundation module which can be used to give you the BLS skills before starting the training.
You will learn how to administer oxygen to a breathing casualty or non-breathing casualty in a diving environment. You will expand your knowledge to include oxygen enriched Basic Life Support delivered either as a as a solo rescuer or part of a team.
The training includes a mix of theory (either in-person or via eLearning) and practical sessions.
You will be taught the latest knowledge of the diving-related injuries such as burst lung, decompression illness, Immersion Pulmonary Oedema (IPO), drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning and shock. You will also discover how they benefit from oxygen first aid.
Practical skills include casualty assessment and the use of oxygen administration equipment for breathing and non-breathing casualties. The skills practice will be on a manikin.
There is a practical and theory assessment at the end of the course.
You will learn to use oxygen first aid confidently and competently to treat a diver involved in a diving incident.
The Oxygen Administration qualification is a prerequisite for some of the Dive Leader lessons and award of the qualification.
There are two elements to the Oxygen Administration course, theory and practical - these can be completed:
- In a club - ask your Diving Officer or Training Officer
- At a scheduled regional event - book your place online now
Students will be given a pack of supporting learning materials. This is a dry course and it’s best to wear comfy clothing for the practical sessions.
eLearning - theory element only
Click one of the buttons below to start training from home straight away:
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Your next steps – developing your skills
After this course you could further your training by doing other Skill Development Courses (SDCs).
You could further your safety and rescue training by completing the following SDCs.
- Learn to use what’s around you on a dive site to deliver first aid on a First Aid for Divers course.
- Improve your lifesaving skills by taking the Lifesaver Award, then the Advanced Lifesaver Award.
- Learn how to take control of a rescue situation on a Practical Rescue Management course.
If you are already a Sport Diver you could sign up for BSAC’s Instructor Foundation Course (IFC) to become an Assistant Diving Instructor, or develop your existing skills as an Open Water Instructor, or above, to become an Oxygen Administration course instructor.
Or you could progress with your diver grade training.
Not yet a BSAC member?
You can do this course by joining BSAC directly or joining your local club.
If you need a hand send your postcode to membership@bsac.com and we'll help you find the right scuba club for you. Or if you fancy a chat call us 0151 350 6201 (Mon - Fri, 9 - 5:30).
