Stopping breath holding practice and games due to Underwater Hypoxic Blackout?

[Anonymous]

I just signed up our family for lessons and received a link to an educational video on social media from a friend. In the video it is explaining how breath holding is dangerous for kids and adults because of Underwater Hypoxic Blackout. In the video they were explaining a swim instructor experienced this and was saved by her student along with an experienced swimmer.

We are entirely new to swimming and learning swimming breathing, now I am concerned or even more confused.

I do feel the initial internal pain/pang of breath holding within just a few seconds but when I push thru it I can hold my breath a little past 40 seconds or so. Am I at risk for this?

If you jump into the deep end, how do you prevent this from happening? In the seconds it takes to rise to the surface?

[Anonymous]

While yes, this is possible, and has happened, it is very rare.

When in the rare occasions it happens, it is almost always after hyper ventilating before going under water. If you are concerned, take one deep breath, not several shallow breaths before going under water.

And of course, no matter how competent a swimmer you are, never swim alone.

[Anonymous]

Ah! Thank you! Is hyperventilating common before entering the water?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah! Thank you! Is hyperventilating common before entering the water?

No.

[Anonymous]

An educational video from social media? Good lord. Please try to use some critical thinking.

[Anonymous]

Please enroll your kids in swim lessons.

[Anonymous]

So dumb

[Anonymous]

I hope this helps you understand the risk. It draws from statistics in Australia. You are doing your family a huge favor by enrolling in swim lessons.

The National Drowning Report 2023 shows that 281 people drowned in Australian waterways.
77% of drowning deaths were male and 57% were over the age of 45 years. Many were immigrants who did not know how to swim.

Statistics drawn from the Royal Life Saving National (Australia) Fatal Drowning Database, based on cases from the Australian National Coronial Information System showed:

There were fewer than 2 deaths per year related to hypoxic blackout. Between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2015, hypoxic blackout was implicated in 22 drowning deaths. All involved males; 17 were aged 18–34 years. The most common scenarios were recreation in domestic or public swimming pools (12 cases) and diving in ocean or harbour locations (nine cases: five while spearfishing, four while freediving). Four of those who drowned in swimming pools had pre-existing medical conditions (predominantly cardiac conditions), and blood alcohol levels exceeded 0.05 g/dL in three.

[Anonymous]

I know a boy who drowned trying to hold his breath and among people who practice breath holding, whether for the purposes of free diving or therapeutic practices, it’s taken extremely seriously. Once you’ve trained your body to last, it becomes extremely relaxing and calming and you can easily lose consciousness.

It’s also how that guy from Inxs died, tho his breath holding was less of a wholesome family activity, but the point remains, it’s not actually that outlandish to be concerned about accidentally dying from intentionally denying yourself breath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a boy who drowned trying to hold his breath and among people who practice breath holding, whether for the purposes of free diving or therapeutic practices, it’s taken extremely seriously. Once you’ve trained your body to last, it becomes extremely relaxing and calming and you can easily lose consciousness.

It’s also how that guy from Inxs died, tho his breath holding was less of a wholesome family activity, but the point remains, it’s not actually that outlandish to be concerned about accidentally dying from intentionally denying yourself breath.

SP - I’ll add the boy who drowned was at school with lots of other kids but no one was paying attention to him. Close supervision would’ve saved him as you can pretty easily be revived from blacking out, but not if you’re unnoticed at the bottom of the pool or alone. Never swim alone. Or so the INXS guy thing alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a boy who drowned trying to hold his breath and among people who practice breath holding, whether for the purposes of free diving or therapeutic practices, it’s taken extremely seriously. Once you’ve trained your body to last, it becomes extremely relaxing and calming and you can easily lose consciousness.

It’s also how that guy from Inxs died, tho his breath holding was less of a wholesome family activity, but the point remains, it’s not actually that outlandish to be concerned about accidentally dying from intentionally denying yourself breath.

SP - I’ll add the boy who drowned was at school with lots of other kids but no one was paying attention to him. Close supervision would’ve saved him as you can pretty easily be revived from blacking out, but not if you’re unnoticed at the bottom of the pool or alone. Never swim alone. Or so the INXS guy thing alone.

SP again - quick spin around Wikipedia says that it’s only a rumor that Inxs guy (Michael hutchence) was going autoerotic asphyxiation, he appears to have actually just committed suicide.

[Anonymous]

If it was that dangerous and common, parents wouldn't let their kids dive to the bottom of the pool. This happens more with people training to free dive, not swimming 8ft down and back up. Or with people who are drunk or trying to show off.

It seems like you have a poor understanding of swimming and water safety. Everyone in your family should enroll in swim classes.

[Anonymous]

I swear, people on this site are LOOKING for new stuff to worry about.

Insanity. SMDH.

[Anonymous]

Did you sign your family up for swim lessons or something on breath holding? If you are entirely new to swimming, I would go with regular swim lessons. No reason to be learning special breath holding techniques! in regular swimming this would be incredibly rare. More common with people who are intentionally doing intense breath holding things like diving very very deep.

[Anonymous]

you wont be doing hypoxic breathing sets unless you are on the swim team