Divers Alert Network

The Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a non-profit organization devoted to assisting divers in need. The DAN Research department conducts significant medical research on recreational scuba diving safety. Supported by donations, grants, and membership dues, DAN's studies are revealing important information that will benefit the entire diving community and improve Recreational diving safety worldwide. The DAN Medicine Department makes it easy for divers worldwide to find answers to their diving medical questions.

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History

In 1977, Undersea Medical Society (later the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society) introduced the concept of a national organization (to replace LEO-FAST at Brooks Air Force Base, directed by Colonel Jefferson Davis, M.D.) where one telephone call from anywhere could connect the caller to a diving medicine specialist 24 hours a day. Dr. Peter B. Bennett received a two-year grant from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in September 1980 to form the "National Diving Accident Network" at the Frank G. Hall Hyperbaric Center at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. 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 line (919-684-2948) to handle questions from recreational divers with non-emergency 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 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. DAN pioneered an insurance program in 1987 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. 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. DAN is awarded the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society's Craig Hoffman Diving Safety Award in June of 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. Growth of the organization continued through the 90's and by June 1997, 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 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 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.

DAN America Recompression Chamber Assistance Program

DAN established the Recompression Chamber Assistance Program (RCAP) in 1993. Many of the chambers in the Caribbean had limited funding, volunteer staffing, minimal opportunities for training and a regularly scheduled maintenance program. Increased dive travel to the Caribbean brought greater awareness of these issues. DAN decided to get ahead of the curve by initiating an assistance program that would not only insure the highest level of care available for divers, but also to provide for the future of diving in remote destinations.

DAN assists chambers by providing technical and educational support as well as equipment for recompression chambers in remote locations. This support has principally been to marginally staffed and supported facilities in the Caribbean and Central America, but has reached as far out as the South Pacific and as close as their home office in the United States. DAN continues to provide free training workshops at Duke University and in the Caribbean to recompression chamber personnel. Recreational divers travel the world, often visiting remote dive locations with limited resources for recompression facilities and staff training. DAN is trying to fill this gap in health care through this program.

See also

• Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
• Rubicon Foundation
• Diving Diseases Research Centre

Other external links

• Divers Alert Network
• Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
• Rubicon Research Repository
• DAN Asia-Pacific Office