Divers Alert Network
Encyclopedia
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
in need. The DAN Research department conducts significant medical research on recreational scuba diving safety. Supported by donations, grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
, and membership dues, DAN's studies are revealing important information that will benefit the entire diving community and improve Recreational diving
Recreational diving
Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...
safety
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
worldwide. The DAN Medicine Department makes it easy for divers worldwide to find answers to their diving medical
Diving medicine
Diving medicine, also called undersea and hyperbaric medicine , is the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of conditions caused by humans entering the undersea environment...
questions.
History
In 1977, Undersea Medical Society (later the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical SocietyUndersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is the primary source of information for diving and hyperbaric medicine physiology worldwide.-History:The Undersea Medical Society grew from the close associations of a small group of scientists...
) introduced the concept of a national organization (to replace LEO-FAST at Brooks Air Force Base, directed by Colonel Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, M.D.) where one telephone call from anywhere could connect the caller to a diving medicine
Diving medicine
Diving medicine, also called undersea and hyperbaric medicine , is the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of conditions caused by humans entering the undersea environment...
specialist 24 hours a day. Dr. Peter B. Bennett
Peter B. Bennett
Peter B. Bennett is the founder and former president and CEO of the Divers Alert Network , a non-profit organization devoted to assisting scuba divers in need. He is a professor of anesthesiology at Duke University Medical Center, and is currently the Senior Director of the Center for Hyperbaric...
received a two-year grant
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(NOAA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is the United States’ federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S...
(NIOSH) in September 1980 to form the "National Diving Accident Network" at the Frank G. Hall Hyperbaric Center at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
. In 1981, DAN published "Underwater Diving Accident Manual". The Hyperbaric Center received 305 calls for information and assistance. DAN implemented a medical/safety advisory telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
line (919-684-2948) to handle questions from recreational divers
Recreational diving
Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...
with non-emergency
Emergency
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative...
questions in 1982. This change was followed by a name change from "Diving Accident Network" to "Divers Alert Network" and hosted the first annual Diving Accident and Hyperbaric Treatment CME
Continuing medical education
Continuing medical education refers to a specific form of continuing education that helps those in the medical field maintain competence and learn about new and developing areas of their field. These activities may take place as live events, written publications, online programs, audio, video, or...
course at the Duke University Medical Center. In 1984, federal grant monies were decreased (50 percent in 1982 and then by 25 percent in 1983) and support now comes exclusively from divers and the diving industry. In 1985 DAN started their 'sponsor program' for clubs, stores and corportations, they then in 1987 pioneered an insurance program in and with the introduction this program, the membership numbers doubled to 32,000 in 1988.
The IRS granted DAN its 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1990. The organization continues to be associated with Duke University Medical Center but moved its offices from the Frank G. Hall Labs to off campus office space. The Flying After Diving research trials begin in 1991.Also in 1991 DAN introduces it first training course 'Oxygen First aid Training Program and DAN Travel Assist.
International DAN - known as IDAN - began to meet at Duke University. IDAN members include: DAN Europe, DAN Japan, and Divers Emergency Service ( D.E.S.), an affiliate organization in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. DAN is awarded the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society's Craig Hoffman Diving Safety Award in June 1992 for its significant contributions to the health and safety of recreational divers. This marked the first time the prestigious award is presented to a group and not to an individual. In Sept 1992 the first DAN Instructor Training Workshop is brought about along side Oxygen First Aid Training program being introduced to Europe. 1993 see DAN open their own insurance company 'Accident General Insurance'. Oxygen First Aid Training is now being taught in Australia, by 1996 it is being taught in 7 conintents. DAN start to introduce other diving related 1st aid Training courses - 'O2 1st aid for aquatic emergencies' (1998), 'Remote Oxygen (REMo2) (1999), Hazardous Marine Life Injuries (2000), Automatic External Difibrulation (AED) (2001) and Advanced Oxygen Provide (2002.
DAN moved to its new, permanent headquarters, the Peter B. Bennett Center.
Dr. Bennett received the 2002 Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Reaching Out Award for his contribution to the dive industry and the Carolinas' Ernst and Young Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
of the Year 2002 award for contributions to business in the life sciences. He announced his retirement as DAN President effective June 30, 2003 After Dr. Bennett resigned as DAN President and CEO, DAN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dan Orr, MS was named acting president and CEO. DAN established the Peter B. Bennett Research Fund, within the Endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
Fund to support research initiatives, enhancing dive safety far into the future. In 2004, Michael D. Curley, Ph.D. was named DAN President and CEO. In 2006, Dr. Curley stepped down and Mr. Orr was named as the DAN President and CEO.
In February 2009, DAN launched a web site for their bi-monthly magazine "Alert Diver Online".
See also
- Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical SocietyUndersea and Hyperbaric Medical SocietyThe Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is the primary source of information for diving and hyperbaric medicine physiology worldwide.-History:The Undersea Medical Society grew from the close associations of a small group of scientists...
- Rubicon FoundationRubicon FoundationRubicon Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to contributing to the interdependent dynamic between research, exploration, science and education. The foundation, started in 2002, is located in Durham, North Carolina and is primarily supported by donations and grants. Funding has...
- Diving Diseases Research CentreDiving Diseases Research CentreThe Diving Diseases Research Centre is a British hyperbaric medical organisation located near Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon. It is a registered charity and was established in 1980 to research the effects of diving on human physiology....