## How to Vomit While Scuba Diving: A Comprehensive Guide
Vomiting while scuba diving can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable experience, but it’s important to know how to do it safely and effectively. If you feel nauseous or like you’re going to vomit, it’s important to take action quickly to avoid aspirating vomit into your lungs.
Before You Dive:
Avoid eating a heavy meal before diving. Eating a large or fatty meal can make you more likely to feel nauseous and vomit.
Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can also contribute to nausea and vomiting.
Take motion sickness medication. If you’re prone to motion sickness, take an over-the-counter medication before diving to help prevent nausea.
If You Start to Feel Nauseous:
Stop diving immediately. Ascend slowly to the surface while monitoring your buoyancy.
Find a place where you can vomit safely. Ideally, this will be on the boat or shore, but if you’re not able to make it, find a spot in the water where there is no current.
Take off your regulator. This will allow you to vomit without aspirating vomit into your lungs.
Bend over and cover your mouth. This will help prevent vomit from getting on your dive buddies or the boat.
Retch and vomit. Try to vomit slowly and gently to avoid gagging.
Rinse your mouth with water. After you’ve vomited, rinse your mouth with water to help clear out any remaining vomit.
Put your regulator back in your mouth. Once you’ve vomited and rinsed your mouth, put your regulator back in your mouth and resume diving.
Risks of Vomiting While Diving:
Aspiration: Vomiting while diving can lead to aspiration, which is when vomit is inhaled into the lungs. This can cause serious respiratory problems, including pneumonia and even death.
Dehydration: Vomiting can also lead to dehydration, which can make you more susceptible to other diving injuries.
Drowning: If you vomit while you’re unconscious, you could drown.
If You Witness Someone Vomiting While Diving:
Help them to the surface. If you see someone vomiting while diving, help them to the surface as quickly as possible.
Stay with them. Once they’re on the surface, stay with them until they’re feeling better.
Call for help. If the person is unresponsive or having difficulty breathing, call for help immediately.
Conclusion:
Vomiting while scuba diving can be a frightening experience, but it’s important to know how to do it safely and effectively. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can help to minimize the risks and get back to diving as quickly as possible.