Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:38:35 GMT

Depends. Ever try to do a no-breather 25 after sprinting a 50, multiple 50's, etc? You could easily pass out. Fortunately I never do hard workout immediately before a 25 no-breather. After reading your and Her Majesty the Queen's comments, I'll make sure this remains the case. Now I understand the "crux" of where the danger comes from. Thanks. :D

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:16:29 GMT

Is swimming 25yrd without breathing as dangerous? (I often do that.) Depends. Ever try to do a no-breather 25 after sprinting a 50, multiple 50's, etc? You could easily pass out. Generally speaking, I don't have too much trouble doing as many 25's no breather's as I want on :30 (unless they are sprint).

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:50:27 GMT

Thanks :). I am in great shape. I just take a breath, push off the wall, then go, never hyperventilate. It has to do with my poor breathing method. Good deal. I know scuba classes require a surface swim without taking a breath to simulate a CESA (Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent), IIRC from my training way back when, we were specifically told not to hyperventilate. That seems to be the crux of the problem for most people.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:46:22 GMT

If you're in any kind of shape it shouldn't be an issue. The problem comes from hyperventilating beforehand. Thanks :). I am in great shape. I just take a breath, push off the wall, then go, never hyperventilate. It has to do with my poor breathing method.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:39:50 GMT

Is swimming 25yrd without breathing as dangerous? (I often do that.) If you're in any kind of shape it shouldn't be an issue. The problem comes from hyperventilating beforehand.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:29:50 GMT

Is swimming 25yrd without breathing as dangerous? (I often do that.)

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:20:03 GMT

It's actually more of a problem that the pool is so shallow. The swimmers probably had limited options for positioning their body. I wouldn't be surprised if they practiced holding their breath floating face down. I get the impression that your average lifeguard will have a tendency to ignore people they perceive as good swimmers. Honestly, I've wondered how long it would take for someone to drag me out of a pool if they saw me floating there. Unfortunately, all it takes is a couple minutes for brain damage or death. Back in the day this might have been the case but with newer training standards and unannounced guard surveillance it's much less likely. Lifeguards from every certifying agency are required to scan their assigned zone continuously, failure to do so will lead to having your cert pulled on the spot. (former evaluator for Ellis & Assoc.) How can there be any area of the pool that is out of eyeshot of the liftguard? It should NEVER happen, not only is it very dangerous, liability would be astronomical.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:18:12 GMT

This is sad. What a senseless waste of two young lives. If he truly was training to be a SEAL, he was acting in violation of Navy policy: Breatholding Policy - NavySEALs.com Forums

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:07:09 GMT

The 2nd swimmer (lifeguard) has also died.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

knelson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:46:58 GMT

How does this happen when there are lifeguards on duty?

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:10:54 GMT

You have to be careful with this and listen to your body. I know a kid that nearly drown swimming for distance under water. I forgot the distance but some people were like i bet you can't swim xx meters underwater. He passed out as he was coming into the wall and inhaled some water before he could grab onto the wall and sunk to the bottom. As long as your training and being smart about it, I think it's fine. But competitive breath holding is kind of risky.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:21:03 GMT

Here is more info: Quote: " Both men, who were in excellent shape, suffered cardiac arrest. Witnesses said that they were in an area of the pool that was out of eyeshot of lifeguards. "Lyons Pool is huge. So what's happening in the far, far corner is hard to see. If you're only two lanes away, it's impossible to see," ... The men were spotted floating face-down in the three-foot-deep shallow section only when one of the two lifeguards called an end to the adult swim session. "The lifeguards were beside themselves. They were giving them CPR. ... the military advises against certain breath-holding exercises or swimming underwater at length to avoid "shallow water blackout," which can lead to drowning. " How can there be any area of the pool that is out of eyeshot of the liftguard?

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:20:54 GMT

1) How do you hold your breath so long that you die? 2) Why would you hold your breath so long as to die? 3) If there were some reason you feared that maybe you'd have a problem... why would you have a breath holding contest/excercise in water?

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:39:25 GMT

Wow, I remember when I was at the Y there was a sign up that "competitive breath holding is prohibited"

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Former Member — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:33:10 GMT

How does this happen when there are lifeguards on duty? "At approximately 8:25 this morning, two men participating in the adult lap swim program were observed face down and not moving in the corner of Lyons Pool," said Benepe. "They were removed by lifeguards and aquatic staff who immediately began resuscitation efforts." I've seen many videos and articles about the "dangers" of hypoxic training in swimming. From what I've read though, it's really only dangerous if you have certain heart conditions, which you won't know about unless you go get checked specifically for them, or you have an accident. Personally, it's not enough to get me to stop. Hypoxic training is too beneficial.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Allen Stark — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 03:49:08 GMT

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

aztimm — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 03:28:15 GMT

I've seen many videos and articles about the "dangers" of hypoxic training in swimming. From what I've read though, it's really only dangerous if you have certain heart conditions, which you won't know about unless you go get checked specifically for them, or you have an accident. Personally, it's not enough to get me to stop. Hypoxic training is too beneficial. Too beneficial -v- death? :afraid: Yes, I'll do hypoxic sets when they're assigned by a coach. But if I have or am getting over a cold, I modify them as I see fit. Having both high blood pressure and asthma, I will gladly use those as excuses. As to the lifeguards...if they can't see a portion of the pool, they need to move to where they can and possibly let management know if it is a staffing issue. I lifeguarded at a major waterpark in Allentown, PA over a summer in college. They positioned us around every pool, water feature, and on busy days even at ride entrances and in chairs leading into the wave pool. We rotated every 15-20 min, got 2 x 15 min breaks as well as a 30 min lunch break every day. And yes, I did a couple saves in 3 feet of water...if someone wasn't responsive to my whistle, I jumped in.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

Allen Stark — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:54:55 GMT

Your body tells you to breath because you have a CO2 build up,not because you are low on oxygen.If you hyperventilate before breath holding you have artificially lowered the CO2 so the cue to breath is gone,therefore you run out of oxygen and pass out with out the cue to breath.This can happen to anyone,even those in excellent health.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

knelson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:06:13 GMT

I wouldn't be surprised if they practiced holding their breath floating face down. That's a good point. I assumed they were swimming while holding their breath, but if they were just floating that would be totally different. The lifeguard(s) wouldn't know anything was wrong until it was too late.

RE: Breath-holding exercises killed one, another critical

gdanner — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:47:39 GMT

How does this happen when there are lifeguards on duty? It's actually more of a problem that the pool is so shallow. The swimmers probably had limited options for positioning their body. I wouldn't be surprised if they practiced holding their breath floating face down. I get the impression that your average lifeguard will have a tendency to ignore people they perceive as good swimmers. Honestly, I've wondered how long it would take for someone to drag me out of a pool if they saw me floating there. Unfortunately, all it takes is a couple minutes for brain damage or death.