Student elective for Sally Simmons and Joanne Croker (360G-Wellcome-080936_Z_06_Z)

Anecdotally, there is some evidence that a number of divers present to their doctors with respiratory tract infections or respiratory problems such as extrinsic allergic alveolitis shortly after commencing diving each year, and I intend to find out if this is because of potential pathogens multiplying in the breathing equipment during winter storage. It is often the case that divers finish with their kit in the Autumn and after washing but not drying their kit, store it in the garage, loft, shed or other household area. Dive clubs tend to store kit in a lock up area, usually hanging up although this is unlikely to make any difference to microbial contamination. The aim is to determine whether there is a link between inappropriate winter storage of diving regulators and respiratory tract symptoms in divers at the beginning of the diving season in the UK. If this link is proven, a leaflet giving advice to divers regarding correct storage of their kit would be produced and distributed nationally through the diving media, on-line and via dive clubs.