Divers Alert Network

Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the safety and health of recreational divers. Founded in 1980, DAN provides emergency assistance, medical information resources, educational opportunities and more to divers and medical professionals.

History

DAN was established in Durham, North Carolina in 1980 at Duke University Medical Center as part of a study on decompression sickness. The organization has since grown to provide a wide range of services to the diving community.

Services

DAN provides a variety of services to its members and the broader diving community. These include:

• Emergency Services: DAN operates a 24-hour emergency hotline that provides information and assistance for diving-related emergencies. This includes coordination of evacuation services and provision of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

• Medical Information: DAN maintains a comprehensive library of medical information related to diving. This includes articles, research papers, and reports on topics such as decompression sickness, barotrauma, and oxygen toxicity.

• Education and Training: DAN offers a range of educational programs and training courses for divers and medical professionals. These include courses on first aid, oxygen administration, and diving medicine.

• Research: DAN conducts and supports research into diving safety and medicine. This includes studies on decompression sickness, diving injuries, and the effects of diving on the human body.

Membership

Membership in DAN is open to all divers and includes benefits such as dive accident insurance, travel assistance, and access to DAN's medical information resources.

See Also

• Scuba diving
• Hyperbaric medicine
• Underwater diving