Dick Rutkowski
Encyclopedia
Richard "Dick" Rutkowski is a pioneer in the fields of hyperbaric medicine, diving medicine
and diver training
, especially in relation to the use of breathing gas
es.
Mr Rutkowski joined the US government service 1950 and served during the Korean War. As a government civilian he served until 1970 when NOAA
was established. He worked at NOAA from 1970 until 1985 as Deputy Diving Coordinator, Director of the NOAA Miami Hyperbaric Facility and Director of NOAA Diver Training. While at NOAA he founded the NOAA Diving/Hyperbaric Training and Diver Treatment Facility in 1973, and served as a director
until 1985. He also served as co-director for the Physician's Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Training Program. During this time, hundreds of physicians have completed this program and are presently serving as directors and/or physicians for major hyperbaric facilities in the US and abroad.
After retiring from NOAA, Mr Rutkowski formed Hyperbarics International, Inc. He is also past president of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
, Gulf Coast Chapter.
He was also the founder of American Nitrox Divers International
(ANDI), The International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
(IANTD), and the Undersea Research Foundation (URF).
In the 1970s Mr Rutkowski taught the first diving emergency and accident management courses, including stressing the importance of oxygen
use at the dive site by non-professionals. In 1978, Dick Rutkowski wrote and published the first diving accident management manual setting the standard used by the Divers Alert Network
.
According to a March 2004 edition of Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine, "In the process of overcoming the negative hype surrounding oxygen-enriched air, he also gave us one of his other significant contributions to diving—a now famous quote—"Science Always Wins Over Bullshit."
His publications include Instructor/Student Guide for the Use of Nitrogen-Oxygen Mixtures as a Divers' Breathing Gas, The Complete Guide to Nitrox Diving, Introduction to Nitrox Diving, Instructor/Student Guide for the Use of Breathing Gases During Hyperbaric Exposures, and Mixing/Blending for Nitrox and Trimix. He has also been a contributor and editor of the NOAA Diving Manual and training films.
Diving medicine
Diving medicine, also called undersea and hyperbaric medicine , is the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of conditions caused by humans entering the undersea environment...
and diver training
Diver training
Diver training is the process of developing skills and building experience in the use of diving equipment and techniques so that the diver is able to dive safely and have fun....
, especially in relation to the use of breathing gas
Breathing gas
Breathing gas is a mixture of gaseous chemical elements and compounds used for respiration.Air is the most common and only natural breathing gas...
es.
Mr Rutkowski joined the US government service 1950 and served during the Korean War. As a government civilian he served until 1970 when NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
was established. He worked at NOAA from 1970 until 1985 as Deputy Diving Coordinator, Director of the NOAA Miami Hyperbaric Facility and Director of NOAA Diver Training. While at NOAA he founded the NOAA Diving/Hyperbaric Training and Diver Treatment Facility in 1973, and served as a director
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
until 1985. He also served as co-director for the Physician's Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Training Program. During this time, hundreds of physicians have completed this program and are presently serving as directors and/or physicians for major hyperbaric facilities in the US and abroad.
After retiring from NOAA, Mr Rutkowski formed Hyperbarics International, Inc. He is also past president of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is the primary source of information for diving and hyperbaric medicine physiology worldwide.-History:The Undersea Medical Society grew from the close associations of a small group of scientists...
, Gulf Coast Chapter.
He was also the founder of American Nitrox Divers International
American Nitrox Divers International
American Nitrox Divers International was founded by Ed Betts and Dick Rutkowski in 1988 as a Scuba diving training agency. As a former dive supervisor of NOAA, and the original founder of IANTD, Dick Rutkowski is responsible for many of the developments in the recreational diving industry.ANDI has...
(ANDI), The International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers is a SCUBA diving organization concerned with certification and training in Enriched Air Nitrox diving, Technical diving and Free diving.- History :...
(IANTD), and the Undersea Research Foundation (URF).
In the 1970s Mr Rutkowski taught the first diving emergency and accident management courses, including stressing the importance of oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
use at the dive site by non-professionals. In 1978, Dick Rutkowski wrote and published the first diving accident management manual setting the standard used by the Divers Alert Network
Divers Alert Network
The Divers Alert Network is a non-profit 501 organization devoted to assisting divers in need. The Research department conducts significant medical research on recreational scuba diving safety...
.
According to a March 2004 edition of Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine, "In the process of overcoming the negative hype surrounding oxygen-enriched air, he also gave us one of his other significant contributions to diving—a now famous quote—"Science Always Wins Over Bullshit."
His publications include Instructor/Student Guide for the Use of Nitrogen-Oxygen Mixtures as a Divers' Breathing Gas, The Complete Guide to Nitrox Diving, Introduction to Nitrox Diving, Instructor/Student Guide for the Use of Breathing Gases During Hyperbaric Exposures, and Mixing/Blending for Nitrox and Trimix. He has also been a contributor and editor of the NOAA Diving Manual and training films.
Honors
Honors and awards that Dick Rutkowski has received include:- having a glacierGlacierA glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
in Antarctica named after him in 1976 by the US Board of Geographic Names - the 1976 NOAA Public Service Award
- nomination for the 1976 Dade CountyMiami-Dade County, FloridaMiami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
(Florida) Outstanding Citizen Award