The Times

Saturday, May 1, 1976, page 16 (of 30)

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SOUTH DADE HOME OF ONLY MAJOR RECOVERY SERVICE FOR AREA DIVERS

DIVING RESCUE The underwater world is a place unto itself and many are enjoying its beauty and serenity. These have found a true haven in South Dade, the home of the most active of diving clubs, The Florida Reef Divers Association. The Association has a membership of 50 and climbing, and offers a lot to both novice and professional divers. The F.R.D.A., recognized by the Florida Underwater Council, holds four to six week training classes. For $35, a new member can be trained and certified as a diver in the United States. These classes consist of theory as well as practical experience. Safety, equipment recovery, and entry are just of the few things a new diver must learn. After the training period the new diver is tested before earning his certificate. The most important lessons a new diver must learn is not to panic and to always dive with a buddy. A diver following these rules will have fewer accidents. Once a diver is certified, the F.R.D.A. offers quite a lot of activity. The Association takes trips to the Keys and to the islands and goes abroad. Boats are always available and the best diving spots are sought out and enjoyed. The Association is also involved in underwater photography, seminars, and competition. All members receive discounts at various diving shops, and Concord Studio and Camera Shop. The F.R.D.A. is heavily involved in the Recompression Chamber project. The Chamber, at Noah National Oceanographic and Aeronautics Admission Building (NNOAA) on Virginia Key, is the largest of the three located in the state of Florida. RECOMPRESSION CHAMBERS The Chamber will cost roughly $15,000 per year to operate. It has only been in use two months, and has already proven itself invaluable to divers. A diver suffering from the bends or air embolism can die if not treated in a recompression chamber. Dr. Ronald Sampson of Jackson Memorial Hospital explains, "The bends involve the flow of gasses into areas in the lungs causing a rupture and clotting of the vascular system. These bubbles keep the blood from the tissues. "An air embolism is a formation of bubbles with an over saturation of inner gas in blood vessels and other areas of tissue," Dr. Sampson explained. "This acts as an obstruction to normal blood flow. The recompression chamber squeezes these bubbles out to let blood get to areas that have been blocked. Gas molecules are then put back into the solution in a normal matter." The initial treatment takes from three to TREATMENT six hours, with repeated treatments to reduce swelling of tissues. Dr. Sampson expects 20 to 30 cases this year alon. Just two weeks ago, a diver from Central America was rushed here for treatment of the bends. Luckily he made it. One of the goals of the Florida Reef Divers Association, in conjunction with the Florida Underwaler Council is to collect funds to operate the chamber. They will be promoting many fund raising drives as well as trying to educate the people of Dade County to the importance of the recompression chamber. Donations for the operation of the recompression chamber can be made to the Florida Underwater Council, 2901 S. Bayshore Dr., Suite 15-B, Miami, Fla. 33133. All parties interested in the Florida Reef Divers Association, can contact President, Wayne MacWilliams, or Board Chairman, Bill Borges at 223-1610 Linda Stelzer

THIS EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOR IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE COOPERATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONCERNED PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS WHO ARE STRIVING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE.

COPYRIGHT 1976 KEY NEWSPAPER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMMING ALLAN R. ABESS, JR., Pres. City Nat'l Bank of Coral Gables | NORMAN BRAMAN, Pres. Braman Cadillac | M.H. FARNSWORTH, Chairman International Corporate Services ltd. | A. NORMAN KOPPEN, Pres. Viking Travel Inc. | FELIPE MORENO, Manager Distributor Sales Latin American Operation Ingersoll-Rand International | GERALD L. ROSE, Pres. Security Federal S & L Association | JULIO ABISLAIMAN, Vice Pres. Riviera Jewelers | JOHN C. BROCKWAY, Pres. R&I Utility Motors, Inc. | MAJOR GENERAL SALVADOR E. FELICES President & Chief Executive Officer Fidelity National Bank of South Miami | MARIAN KRUTULIS, Director Gulliver Academy. Inc. | CLIFFORD J. NAGEL, JR., Pres. The Wometco Construction Co. So. Fla. Chapter Assoc. Gen'l Contractors | ROBERT L. SEARLE, Pres. Searle & Morris Insurance | TED ADLER/GEORGE MILBOER Giralda Bake Shop Inc. | GLEN ALLEN BUFF | GENERAL WATERWORKS South Florida Division | MR. PETE LATA The Madrid Restaurant | E. CARR SMITH | CARLOS J. ARBOLEYA, Pres. Barnett Bank of Westchester N.A. | GUY C. CARMICHAEL, JR., Pres. Crow, Pope & Land of Florida, Inc. | WOLF HANAU, President Les Jardins Restaurant | TIMOTHY F. LONG Sweden House Restaurants | DAVID C. NEALE, Div. Manager 7-Eleven Stores Division of the Southland Corporation | ROBERT ULLMAN, Pres. Ber-Robins Men's Store Miracle Mile Merchants Association | WILLIAM BAGWELL, Pres. Miami Sole and Jack Inc. | G. HERNANDEZ-CARTAYA Chairman of the Board W.F.C. Group | JULIO C. IGLESIAS Consultant | RAUL P. MASVIDAL, Pres. Royal Trust Bank of Miami, N.A. | FRANK H. POE, Pres. Poe's Hardware & Rent-Alls | RICHARD D. SWETONIC, Pres. Wallace by Dick Richmond | PETER L. BERMONT Vice Pres. & Res. Mgr. Drexel Burnham & Co. | C. DeWITT COFFMAN, Pres. The Coffman Corporation Hotel Consultants | RALPH JENSEN, Pres. Continental Travel, Inc. | GARY A. MATTHEWS, Pres. Gary's Paint & Body Shop, Inc. | JESS QUESADA Andalusia Bake Shop | NATHAN TARTAK, R. P. Riviera Pharmacy | CURTIS BLANK Co-owner Cole Chauveaux, Inc. | MARVIN S. CONE, Director Dearborn School | M. "DICK" JONES, Pres. Catalina Aquatech Pools, Inc. | MS. BEVERLEY A. McGHEE, HEADMISTRESS Alexander Montessori School | RONALD R. READER, C.L.U. General Agent Mass. Mutual Life Ins. Co. | SOUTH DIXIE DISCOUNT CENTER 8365 South Dixie Highway | MR. & MRS. RICHARD H. DAVIS Hickory Farms of Ohio | KENNETH E. KAMBERG, Pres. Coral Gables Fed. Savings & Loan Assoc. | DR. JAMES D. MEFFEN Pres. & Administrator Gables Academies | RAYMOND J. REICHLING, M.D. | RICHARD D. THOMAS, Administrator Coral Gables Hospital | JAMES E. DOWNS, Pres. Jenmer & Klein Jewelers, Inc. | ROBERT G. KNIGHT, Mayor City of Coral Gables | L. GERALD WRIGHT Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer Aristar Management Inc. | HOWARD R. DOWNES Chairman of the Board The Dimmicon Companies | FRANK H. WIRTZ, Gen'l Mgr. The Rusty Pelican