An inspirational boost : Raising awareness of Shallow Water Blackout / Underwater Fainting

After a crazy few days that turned everything upside down for us (again) and left us feeling pretty low, we were honoured to have the opportunity to listen to Dean Haller, who has taken on the cause of raising awareness about Shallow Water Blackout Prevention after his son, Benjo, fell victim to it in 2014, aged 27. He spoke of his work with both the Live Like Benjo Foundation and Shallow Water Blackout Prevention and reminded us of the importance of what we do and the opportunity we have to make a real difference in avoiding other families experiencing something similar. So with that, we have added below some of his key messages and he has kindly given permission for us to share their material. For more information, click on the names of the two organisations above to be taken to their websites. Now, fire re-stoked, a quick stop for lunch and on to some more phone calls...

Who Can it Affect?

ANYONE - in fact it is something that probably affects confident swimmers more than non-swimmers. It has happened to elite swimmers, freedivers, spearfishers and swimmers in pools on holiday amongst others.

What Causes It?

A swimmer fainting underwater due to either intentionally or unintentionally overriding the body's signal to take another breath.

Intentional examples include competing in underwater games and seeking to prolong the next breath.

Hyperventilating (taking a number of breaths, usually to "get more breath in") prior to going underwater as this affects the body's signalling system telling it when another breath is needed can be either intentional or unintentional.

It can also occur from over-exertion in the water where insufficient breaks are taken.

What Does it Look Like?

As the body has fainted, there are no signs of a struggle or cries for help - it is very quiet and the victim sinks down and appears to be resting on the bottom.

Can Swimmers Be Rescued?

Yes, although the window of opportunity is not long so you need to act quickly.

What You'll Hear in Lessons

To instil best practices, we:

- teach our swimmers not to take several breaths before going underwater

- remind our swimmers that we need to breathe and we need to breathe the air not the water

- encourage relaxed bubbles and effective rather than snatched breaths in

- watch carefully and enforce breaks on an individual basis as well as for the group

- limit repetitions of underwater activities, particularly those that are more active i.e. swimming underwater