Shallow Water Blackout: The Hidden Danger in Pools

Now that summer is here the weather is getting hotter and many parents are looking to help their kids cool off. That means flocking to swimming pools. Whether it's the pool in your own backyard, the neighbor's pool you use when they're not home, or the public pool, they are the best way to cool down on a hot day.

It goes without saying that you should always watch your child while swimming, especially if they're young. But even older kids need to be watched too, regardless of how well they can swim. This post will explain why.

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When most people think of drowning, they think of someone who either cannot swim or is too exhausted to swim and simply cannot keep his/her head above water. While this does happen, it's not the only cause of drowning.

A popular game kids like to play is seeing who can stay underwater the longest. It's a game I played many times as a kid and I'm sure many of you played it as well. Holding your breath underwater generally isn't very dangerous if you're in a safe environment with good supervision.

The problem is when kids start to hyperventilate so they can hold their breaths longer. The idea that hyperventilation increases your ability to hold your breath is a false (and deadly) one.

What Is Shallow Water Blackout?

I'm not a doctor, so I'll give you the very basics here. When you hyperventilate, you take several deep breaths in rapid order. This depletes the level of carbon dioxide in your blood (carbon dioxide is what you exhale).

Popular to contrary belief, it is not the lack of oxygen that tells your brain you need to breathe, it's a build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood. When the level begins rising, your brain says "Hey! Something is wrong here. We have too much carbon dioxide. We need to breathe!"

So, when you hyperventilate, you expel this carbon dioxide and now it's not building up in your blood like it should. That means your brain thinks everything is good to go, despite being deprived of oxygen. This is dangerous to someone underwater because he/she will have no urge to breathe, thinking they can stay under longer.

After being underwater long enough (the length of time is different for everyone), you finally lose consciousness from loss of oxygen. There are no warning signs. You simply pass out under water. This usually happens in shallow water (like a pool), and can affect even the strongest and most experienced swimmers.

Even Someone In The Pool Might Not Notice You

Unless someone notices you and can rescue you within a few minutes, you'll likely drown. And that's another problem. You need someone to be watching you constantly, who preferably knows first aid, in order to have a chance at survival. People have drowned in pools with people in the water with them simply because the others didn't notice the person was in trouble. Because, again, the victim doesn't exhibit the usual signs of drowning (thrashing in the water, calling for help, etc).

Does this mean you shouldn't let your kids go underwater at all? Of course not! To stay safe underwater, it's important to breathe normally (so the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood can reach an equilibrium), take one deep breath, and then go under. And once you feel the urge to breathe, surface immediately. Do this will ensure your body reacts normally to holding your breath and will help to keep you safe.

The purpose of this post isn't to scare anyone away from pools this summer. It's just something to keep in mind when cooling off in the hot sun. Talk to your kids about this so they're aware of the danger. More importantly though, as a parent, you need to stay vigilant.