PADI Medical Form - Learn more about the PADI Medical Statement Requirements
The PADI Medical Form also called the PADI Medical Statement, is a form created and approved by the WRSTC. A filled-in PADI Medical Form is needed every time you take a scuba diving course. PADI Medical Form tells the dive shop, their management, your Dive Instructor, and PADI that you are in good health to go scuba diving. This form can also be used in potential lawsuits.
WRSTC - World Recreational Scuba Training Council
The World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) was founded in 1999 and was formed to create minimum scuba diving standards for training organizations like PADI, SSI, RAID, etc. A national council is referred to as a RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council), based on a local area.
WRSTC Mission:
“The WRSTC’s primary goals is the development of worldwide minimum training standards”
WRSTC Mission:
“The WRSTC’s primary goals is the development of worldwide minimum training standards”
It is a PADI Standard to fill in a PADI Medical Form
The US RSTC has been responsible for the development of a standard medical statement (in conjunction with the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society). PADI is a member of the WRSTC and therefore uses the PADI Medical Form for its scuba diving courses.
PADI’s official standard from the Instructor Manual:
You need to complete the PADI Medical Statement (RSTC Medical form) at the beginning of the course (and before any in-water activities).
Exceptions: Courses with no in-water activities, certain continuing education courses (listed below), and programs that have course-specific forms (such as Discover/Experience TecRec programs). An Adventure Dive completed on the same day as Open Water Diver course Dive 4 is covered by the Open Water Diver course documentation.
Learn more about Why following PADI Standards is important.
PADI’s official standard from the Instructor Manual:
You need to complete the PADI Medical Statement (RSTC Medical form) at the beginning of the course (and before any in-water activities).
Exceptions: Courses with no in-water activities, certain continuing education courses (listed below), and programs that have course-specific forms (such as Discover/Experience TecRec programs). An Adventure Dive completed on the same day as Open Water Diver course Dive 4 is covered by the Open Water Diver course documentation.
Learn more about Why following PADI Standards is important.
Do I have to visit a doctor before scuba diving?
This is in most cases not necessary. A PADI Instructor should allow you to participate in a scuba diving course if you answered: NO on all the medical questions. If you answered: YES on one or more questions you have to visit the doctor.
This doesn’t always mean you cannot go scuba diving. In most cases, the doctor will approve scuba diving by also signing the PADI Medical Form. However, in some cases the medical issue can worsen when you scuba dive, and then the doctor will recommend you not to scuba dive and he won’t sign the PADI Medical Statement, preventing you from diving.
This counts for recreational scuba courses like the PADI Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and Specialty Courses. However, you have to do a medical check with a doctor if you would like to take the PADI Divemaster and PADI IDC Course. You need to do this within 12 months of taking the Divemaster and Instructor course. You also need a PADI Medical Form signed by a physician if you want to participate in the PADI Instructor Examination (IE).
Learn more about the PADI Open Water Course
This counts for recreational scuba courses like the PADI Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and Specialty Courses. However, you have to do a medical check with a doctor if you would like to take the PADI Divemaster and PADI IDC Course. You need to do this within 12 months of taking the Divemaster and Instructor course. You also need a PADI Medical Form signed by a physician if you want to participate in the PADI Instructor Examination (IE).
Learn more about the PADI Open Water Course
Does PADI call doctor from Medical Form?
This is in most cases not necessary. A PADI Instructor should allow you to participate in a scuba diving course if you answered: NO on all the medical questions. If you answered: YES on one or more questions you have to visit the doctor.
If the doctor approves you for scuba diving and sign’s the PADI Medical Statement then a PADI Instructor should allow you on the course. It is important to know, however that a PADI Instructor, Divemaster, and the Dive Shop can always decide not to take you on a course even if the doctor approves you for scuba diving. This has happened in cases where the Dive Instructor, Divemaster, or Dive Shop management didn’t trust the doctor’s evaluation.
If the doctor approves you for scuba diving and sign’s the PADI Medical Statement then a PADI Instructor should allow you on the course. It is important to know, however that a PADI Instructor, Divemaster, and the Dive Shop can always decide not to take you on a course even if the doctor approves you for scuba diving. This has happened in cases where the Dive Instructor, Divemaster, or Dive Shop management didn’t trust the doctor’s evaluation.
When do I need a new PADI Medical Statement?
If you become injured or ill during your scuba diving course you need to use a new PADI Medical Form to evaluate if you are healthy enough to continue the PADI course. In most cases, you will now fill in a YES on some of the medical questions, which means you need to seek medical clearance from a doctor before continuing the diving course. You should always fill in a new PADI Medical Form, whenever you are in doubt if you need a new medical statement. The same goes for visiting a doctor, whenever you are in doubt you should visit a doctor before scuba diving.
Legal protection with the PADI Medical Form
The Medical Statement warns the student diver of potential risks associated with medical conditions and provides assumptions of risk by the student/ participant or transfers the responsibility (and liability) of determining medical fitness to dive to a physician.
Paperwork must be retained for each student diver in accordance with local law, or seven years, whichever is longer. Failure to properly use all required forms, besides leading to Quality Assurance interactions, can make it difficult to defend a dive educator’s teaching practices.
PADI Clearly states:
Medical Statement – Must be signed by student diver (and a physician if necessary) before any in-water training.
PADI Clearly states:
Medical Statement – Must be signed by student diver (and a physician if necessary) before any in-water training.
PADI Medical Form questions
Reference: PADI / RSTC Medical Statement Form:
The purpose of this Medical Questionnaire is to find out if you should be examined by your doctor before participating in recreational diver training. A positive response to a question does not necessarily disqualify you from diving. A positive response means that there is a preexisting condition that may affect your safety while diving and you must seek the advice of your physician prior to engaging in dive activities.
Please answer the following questions on your past or present medical history with a YES or NO. If you are not sure, answer YES. If any of these items apply to you, we must request that you consult with a physician prior to participating in scuba diving. Your instructor will supply you with an RSTC Medical Statement and Guidelines for Recreational Scuba Diver’s Physical Examination to take to your physician.
Questions:
Have you ever had or do you currently have…
The questions above are to show you what to expect on the PADI Medical Form. Please download the PADI Medical form here containing all information and read it carefully. We recommend you to contact PADI, your Dive Shop or/and a doctor for any questions related to the medical statement.
I hoped that this article help you and I wish you the best of success with your scuba diving courses!
The purpose of this Medical Questionnaire is to find out if you should be examined by your doctor before participating in recreational diver training. A positive response to a question does not necessarily disqualify you from diving. A positive response means that there is a preexisting condition that may affect your safety while diving and you must seek the advice of your physician prior to engaging in dive activities.
Please answer the following questions on your past or present medical history with a YES or NO. If you are not sure, answer YES. If any of these items apply to you, we must request that you consult with a physician prior to participating in scuba diving. Your instructor will supply you with an RSTC Medical Statement and Guidelines for Recreational Scuba Diver’s Physical Examination to take to your physician.
Questions:
- Could you be pregnant, or are you attempting to become pregnant?
- Are you presently taking prescription medications? (with the exception of birth control or anti-malarial)
- Are you over 45 years of age and can answer YES to one or more of the following?
- currently smoke a pipe, cigars or cigarettes
- have a high cholesterol level
- have a family history of heart attack or stroke
- are currently receiving medical care
- high blood pressure
- diabetes mellitus, even if controlled by diet alone
Have you ever had or do you currently have…
- Asthma, or wheezing with breathing, or wheezing with exercise?
- Frequent or severe attacks of hayfever or allergy?
- Frequent colds, sinusitis, or bronchitis?
- Any form of lung disease?
- Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)?
- Other chest disease or chest surgery?
- Behavioral health, mental or psychological problems (Panic attack, fear of closed or open spaces)?
- Epilepsy, seizures, convulsions, or take medications to prevent them?
- Recurring complicated migraine headaches or take medications to prevent them?
- Blackouts or fainting (full/partial loss of consciousness)?
- Frequent or severe suffering from motion sickness (seasick, carsick, etc.)? Dysentery or dehydration requiring medical intervention?
- Any dive accidents or decompression sickness?
- Inability to perform moderate exercise (example: walk 1.6 km/one mile within 12 mins.)?
- Head injury with loss of consciousness in the past five years?
- Recurrent back problems?
- Back or spinal surgery?
- Diabetes?
- Back, arm, or leg problems following surgery, injury, or fracture?
- High blood pressure or take medicine to control blood pressure?
- Heart disease?
- Heart attack?
- Angina, heart surgery, or blood vessel surgery?
- Sinus surgery?
- Ear disease or surgery, hearing loss, or problems with balance?
- Recurrent ear problems?
- Bleeding or other blood disorders?
- Hernia?
- Ulcers or ulcer surgery?
- A colostomy or ileostomy?
- Recreational drug use or treatment for, or alcoholism in the past five years?
The questions above are to show you what to expect on the PADI Medical Form. Please download the PADI Medical form here containing all information and read it carefully. We recommend you to contact PADI, your Dive Shop or/and a doctor for any questions related to the medical statement.
I hoped that this article help you and I wish you the best of success with your scuba diving courses!
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Marcel van den Berg
PADI Platinum Course Director
PADI Platinum Course Director
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Copyright 2017 - 2022 | All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
All content on this website and URL are owned by Sairee Cottage Diving PADI 5-Star IDC Center S-36452
Copyright 2017 - 2022 | All Rights Reserved