AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Heart failure claims snorkler's life

From what I understand nitro tablets are not always a good idea for the treatment of a heart attack on the other hand everyone can carry Aspirin Oxygen and have access to an AED.

It is imperative that this town in conjunction with the BTB and the emergency First Response team coordinate to ensure that several AED's and First AID stations be setup around the island and every single person who deals with tourists should be made aware of their location. Every single Tour guide should be trained for First Aid.

There is NO excuse. The BTB should purchase the items needed and the training although I am sure many people can help in this regard.

At 12:00 on a Sunday from Hol Chan where is the closest AED? I bet that only about 10 people on this island would know the answer to that question.

Hol Chan has plenty of money with what they collect out there and the rangers basically sleep all day anyway. it would do them some good to learn something.

The tourists that come here are dying and it is time we did something about it.

Correction

Jason's Edwards cell phone number for the rescue team has changed to 610-1123.

Diane said it much better and with full perspective, regardless anything else I've said, I again extend my deepest sympathies to friends and family.

With regard to whether or not there is a current at Mexico Rocks, I must disagree. Certainly it is not that of Hol Chan, but still exists.

I'm a diver, occasional snorkler and long time swimmer, super comfy in the water. My last time out snorkelling at Mexico Rocks, I was so comfy that I was pulled out over the staghorn coral, before I realized it. I had one heck of a time getting away from it without damaging either the coral or myself. (note, at that time the coral reached almost to the surface of the water)

Someone less comfortable in the water, would likely have made a helluva mess of both the coral and themselves.

Before we came down to SP last month I bought some short fins. I was conserned about my long fins damaging the coral The current at Mexico rocks was strong enough that day I had to change and put the long ones on. But I was very careful to stay far enough away as not to touch the coral. Two or three days later we were at Hol Chan and I could use the short fins with no problem.

I'm not a strong swimmer hence the long fins. But I float with the best of them. LOL

There can be a current anywhere, but AFAIK that at Mexico Rocks is never a tidal current as at Hol Chan, which can at certain points of the tide produce a real hazard of being sucked outside the reef.

We see snorkelers without guides on kayaks all the time going out to the cuts in the reef. I wonder if they are warned about the currents around the cuts. Every cut is essentially a rip current for all the water coming over the reef to get back to the ocean. Even during an incoming tide, there is still some current going out of the cuts. If you get caught in a strong outgoing tide, few swimmers or kayakers could fight their way back in. I have been diving here for twenty years. I still watch the tide chart and prefer to avoid Hol Chan when the tide is going out.