What should be prioritized for an injured diver who is trapped underwater?

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Prioritizing sufficient breathing gas for an injured diver who is trapped underwater is crucial because the immediate survival of the diver depends on their ability to breathe. When a diver is injured and unable to surface, maintaining access to breathing gas is essential to avoid hypoxia, which is a lack of oxygen that can lead to unconsciousness or death within minutes.

Having adequate breathing gas can also buy time for rescue efforts and facilitates the necessary interventions that must occur before a successful ascent. It allows the diver to signal for help and possibly perform self-rescue maneuvers if feasible.

Other considerations, like stabilizing the injury or assessing decompression obligations, are important but come after ensuring that the diver can breathe. If the diver cannot breathe due to insufficient gas, all other considerations become moot, as survival is the priority.

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