Diving History -- Navy Diving Manual
In 1905 the first U.S. Navy Diving Manual was published. This manual was
a far cry from what we have today. It was only 45 pages long and mostly
concentrated on equipment and how to use it. Things like diving physics
and medicine much less any sort of decompression procedures or technical
diving were not in the manual as these things were a ways from
discovery/development. Chapter One under requirements for divers states:
“Divers are –
1. To be cool headed, calm and of phlegmatic temperament.
2. To be in good health, have a strong constitution, and the action
of the lungs be normal.
3. Not to be short necked, full blooded, or with a tendency to nose
bleed.
4. Not to have bloodshot eye, or a high color on the cheeks caused by
the interlacement of numerous small but distinct blood vessels.
5. Not to be very pale, or have lips more blue than red, nor be the
subject to cold hands or feet.
6. Not to perspire freely
7. Not to be affected with cough, asthma, or catarrh (phlegm).
8. Not to be subject to headaches or dizziness, or affected with
deafness.
9. Not to be hard drinkers, nor have suffered frequently or severely
from venereal disease, or have had sunstroke or rheumatism.
10. Not to have been subject to palpitation of the heart of fainting
spells.
11. Not at any time have spat or coughed up blood.
Men who have long trunks with well developed chests and loins generally
make good divers.”
Some other interesting rules in the manual:
1. “A diver should not go down for at least 1 _ hours after eating a
hearty meal, or for 2 hours after drinking spirituous liquors.”
2. “A diver should descend slowly, about 1 fathom (6 feet) per
minute.”
3. “Never go down more than 20 feet without a descending line.”
4. “No oil but the best olive oil should be used as it is not to make
a diver sick, especially if he is a beginner.”
Finally according to the manual, the proper way to resuscitate a diver who
has fallen victim to drowning is to do the following:
• Do not stand the diver on his head. If weather permits, lay him
face downward in the open air with a pad of clothes under his stomach.
• Clear his mouth and turn him on his side and excite his nostrils
with snuff, ammonia or tickle his palette with a feather. Sprinkle the
face and chest with water.
• If he shows no sign of breathing, lay him on his stomach again
with
a pad of clothes under his chest with one arm across his face. Firmly
press a hand between his shoulder blades and carefully turn the body on
its side and then rapidly to his stomach again – repeat about fifteen
times per minute.
• If no indication of breathing appears after several minutes, turn
him on his back laying a pad under his head and neck. Pull his tongue
forward and keep it there, tying a string around the tongue and chin if
necessary.
• Get behind his head; grasp both arms just above the elbows and
steadily but gently bring them extended above his head, holding them there
about two seconds, then shove them down alongside his body again for two
seconds. Repeat at a rate of about ten times per minute.
• As soon as he begins to breathe place hot-water bottles around the
lower part of his body and cover him warmly. As soon as he can swallow,
give him a little lukewarm water, brandy, coffee or tea.
