Neurological Assessment Course

The Neurological Assessment course trains participants to perform a basic neurological examination as part of the initial medical evaluation. There are two primary goals of this program:

    1. Provide first responders with the skills necessary to discover signs of acute neurological injury.
    2. Minimize treatment delays through rapid activation of emergency medical services (EMS).

Half day (4hr) practical dry course most beneficial for divers and non-divers. 

Course Objective

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death and the leading cause of long-term disability according to the American Heart Association. Decompression illness (DCI) can present as a neurological injury associated with scuba diving. Rapid recognition of and response to a suspected neurological injury, regardless of cause, can help convince the injured person of the need for emergency oxygen and help the responder monitor the injured person's condition and report findings to emergency medical services (EMS).

Learning Objectives

The DAN Neurological Assessment course focuses on how to obtain essential information about an individual involved in a dive emergency or suspected of having a stroke and what information to relay to EMS.

You will learn about:

• Nervous system overview
• Stroke
• Decompression illness
• Neurological assessments

You will develop the following skills:

• Making a F-A-S-T assessment
• Taking a history
• Monitoring vital signs
• Assessing cranial nerve function
• Determining mental function
• Evaluating motor function
• Assessing coordination and balance