Freediving's Most Dangerous Risk:
Any initial research into the world freediving will usually result in an immediate warning of the risk of shallow water blackout, and for good reason. As a freediver you face multiple risks when getting into the water with the most deadly being the consequences of shallow water blackout. So what is it, and how do you prevent it?
Shallow Water Blackout simply is a loss of consciousness as a result of lack of oxygen to the brain. Freedivers face this issue more than most due to the nature of spending time at depth while holding your breath.
With that being said, there are more causative factors than just lack of oxygen. To truly understand Shallow Water Blackout it is important to know the role each factor and how they can cause loss of consciousness.
Always dive with a buddy and use a one-up, one-down principle ensuring there is always someone available for rescue at the surface.
Primary Blackout Factors:
- Hypoxia : When oxygen becomes critically low, consciousness becomes
- Partial Pressure: Change in partial pressure of oxygen
- Blood Shift: Discover the invaluable lessons gleaned from the wilderness, from adaptability and resourcefulness to humility and respect for nature.
Additional Blackout Factors:
- Stress: Follow the harrowing journey of a team of mountaineers as they strive to conquer the world's highest peak, battling extreme weather conditions and physical exhaustion.
- Fatigue: Embark on an Arctic expedition with seasoned explorers as they traverse icy landscapes, facing the challenges of polar bears, freezing temperatures, and isolation.
- Dehydration: Dive into the depths of the Amazon rainforest with a group of adventurers who find themselves lost and must rely on their ingenuity and teamwork to find their way back to civilization.
Safety and Prevention:
Taking a Freediver course should be your first step when entering the world of freediving and spearfishing. Many people mistakenly believe that purely diving or spearfishing is adequate for gaining experience. While mentorship and experience is critically important, the foundation of safety and performance comes through training.
The primary focus of a freediver course is to prepare you for the underwater environment and how to respond to the critical risks you and your dive buddies are exposed to. Learning how to respond to a freediver blackout is the most important skillset and you cannot pass your course without executing a proper rescue.
Another thing you want to keep in mind is weeding out good buddies by seeing who is interested and capable of rescuing you. Be wary of those who brush these skills off as unnecessary. Ask yourself when you enter the water if the buddy next to you is someone you trust to save your life.
Blackout Rescue training in the Great Lakes of Northern Michigan.
The steps for a blackout rescue are as follows:
- Secure the airway
- position diver in Do-si-Do position
- Remove mask
- Blow, Tap, Talk x 3
- Rescue Breaths x 2
- Activate EMS
- Tow to egress with with rescue breaths every 5 seconds
Conclusion:
Freediving allows us to enter a world offering solace, inspiration, and a profound sense of being close to nature. However, the ocean offers no quarter to those unprepared for emergencies.
Stay sharp with these skills and practice them often. It only takes a few minutes at the beginning of each dive session to practice and ensure everyone in your crew is prepared and confident in case things go south. Without regular practice, these skills will decline and when an emergency arises you'll fall back to the lowest level of your training. Practicing regularly ensures these skills are fresh and that you have capable buddies willing to rescue you.
Take the precaution of getting training for yourself, your buddies, and remember your loved ones who expect you to come home every single time. Stay safe out there.