This Data Center exists as an information hub for the latest news and findings around underwater hypoxic blackouts / shallow water blackouts. If you have information that should be added, please send it to admin@shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org

Hypoxic Blackouts / Shallow Water Blackouts

• What is an Underwater Hypoxic Blackout?

• 2023: The fatal effect of underwater breath-holding exercises: a recent trend observed in the Northern Territory of Australia

• 1/30/23: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554620/

• 9/25/2016: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9487220/

• 8/1/2015: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1330&context=ijare

• 2015: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1330&context=ijare

• 2012: http://www.aquaticsafetygroup.com/images/Graphics/ABC%20for%20SWB.pdf

• How to prevent a blackout?

  • https://www.hprc-online.org/physical-fitness/injury-prevention/prevent-shallow-water-blackout

• Coroner Reports

  • Shallow Water Blackout (Hypoxic Blackout)–Induced Drowning: An Autopsy Report of Two Cases

• Effects of Hyperventilation

  • 7/27/2023: https://www.khon2.com/local-news/hyperventilation-can-lead-to-early-underwater-blackouts/

  • 4/15/2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37060440/

  • 4/1/2018: Drowning deaths in Australia caused by hypoxic blackout, 2002-2015

  • 1/2012: Drowning

  • 2010: A Call for Standards on Perioperative CO2 Regulation

Organization Statements

• International Lifesaving Federation 

• 9/5/2011:https://www.ilsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MPS-16-2011-Shallow-water-black-out.pdf

• Red Cross

• 11/22:https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/training-services/scientific-advisory-council/2022%20Hypoxic%20Blackout%20-%20Joint%20Statement%20-%20Red%20Cross%20Y%20USA%20Swimming%2010-31-2022.pdf

• 4/1/19: Red Cross YouTube video on Difference between Hypoxic Blackout and Shallow Water Blackout

• USA Swimming

  • https://www.usaswimming.org/news/2017/02/01/loss-of-consciousness-in-breath-holding-swimmers

• USA Artistic Swim

  • 2/1/23: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UiqFFr0YBlaJDqAYYb5OSXg1J0ap7fNWlMO4TzxkBtA/edit

• National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA)

  • https://ndpa.org/becomewatercompetent/

• Centers for Disease Control

  • https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/prevention/index.html

  • 5/18/2012: Drowning — United States, 2005–2009

• Naval Safety Center

  • 2020: Shallow Water Blackout: Lessons Learned

• Australian Institute of Sport

  • Breath Hold Training: Position Statement

• Lifesaving Society: The Lifeguard Experts

  • 2/2012: Lifesaving Society Information Bulletin

Prevention Efforts 

• By YMCA

• 11/22:https://www.outclique.com/ymca-of-south-floridas-beach-ball-2022-raises-more-than-630000-for-water-safety-education-and-drowning-prevention-programs-in-south-florida/

• https://www.ymcadallas.org/blog/water-safety-doesnt-stop-when-summer-over

• Redwoods Group

  • https://redwoodsgroup.com/resources/breath-holding-and-shallow-water-blackout/

  • https://redwoodsgroup.com/resources/victim-recognition-medical-events-shallow-water-blackout/

  • https://redwoodsgroup.com/resources/in-service-training-extended-breath-holding/

  • https://redwoodsgroup.com/wp-content/microlearning-upload/preventing-breath-holding/#/lessons/qr7_fXn4urGfo5Gom7MCs--F5lyV5Qky

  • See paragraph 11: https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/182/1-2/1471/4099822

• City of Staten Island & New York City

• 6/1/15: https://www.silive.com/news/2015/06/deaths_at_lyons_pool_sparked_w.html

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/swimming-pools-ban-holding-breath_n_7468010

• City of Santa Barbara

  • 6/2/15: https://keyt.com/news/2015/06/02/santa-barbara-bans-extended-breath-holding-in-city-run-pools/

• State of Wisconsin

  • Wisconsin State Legislature

    • Look in section ATCP 76.29  Posting pool rules.

• Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)

  • 5/30/23: https://health.choc.org/underwater-breath-holding-challenges-may-cause-drowning-how-to-protect-your-kids/

• University of Florida College of Medicine

  • 7/2010: Prevention of Needless Deaths from Drowning

• Royal Life Saving Australia

  • 10/17/23: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/news-and-updates/news/study-identifies-strategic-priorities-to-advance-global-drowning-prevention

• Professional Safety

  • 9/2012: Safety Sign

Lawsuits

• Current: https://unicourt.com/case/ca-la23-raphael-metzger-vs-wim-hof-et-al-951604?init_S=st_ftrd

  • You can read Maddie’s story here and find out more about the lawsuit at this link.

• 2/14/17: https://www.silive.com/news/2017/02/lyons_pool_death_settlement.html

  • 2017: Drowning Deaths From Unsupervised Breath Holding: Separating Necessary Training From Unwarranted Risk

• 2008: https://www.clubindustry.com/nonprofits/long-island-ymca-settles-suit-over-lifeguard-drowning

Underwater Sports

• Underwaters

• 5/29/15:https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/shallow-water-blackout-the-silent-killer-of-swimmers/

• 2/2005: http://www.aquaticsafetygroup.com/PDF/DyingforAirAquaticsInternationalFebruary2005.PDF

• Wim Hof Method

  • 06/2023: https://www.scottcarney.com/blog/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-wim-hof-empire

  • 5/15/2018: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29438845/

• Synchronized Swimming

• 6/30/22:https://www.healthing.ca/wellness/fitness/shallow-water-blackout-hypoxic-blackout-swimming

• 11/1/2010: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1186&context=ijare

• Freediving/Spearfishing

• 7/23/23: https://www.kitv.com/news/local/two-freedivers-pronounced-dead-sunday-morning-after-incident-on-oahus-north-shore/article_ab679244-29b6-11ee-a7f2-837603e68d81.html

• 7/18/23: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-places-to-freedive-taiwan

• 6/5/23:https://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2023/06/04/safety-in-freediving-enhancing-adventure-while-minimizing-risks/

• 5/20/22: https://www.deeperblue.com/avoiding-black-outs-hypoxic-fits/

• 5/1/19: https://dan.org/alert-diver/article/freediving-safety/

• 6/17/17: https://immersionfreediving.com/blackout/

• 2015: Shallow-water blackout. Case report: death while free diving

• 6/15/2014: Diving Medicine

• 1/1/2009: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.90991.2008?rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed&url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org

• Underwater Hockey

  • 7/13/2023: https://www.cureus.com/articles/167441-measured-submersion-times-in-underwater-hockey-are-inconsistent-with-its-classification-as-an-extreme-apneic-sport#!/

• Articles relating to serval underwater sports

  • Sports related to drowning

Studies - Past & Present

• Safe Underwater Breathing (SUB) Research Group

  • First Evaluation of a Newly Constructed Underwater Pulse Oximeter for Use in Breath-Holding Activities

  • Using Underwater Pulse Oximetry in Freediving to Extreme Depths to Study Risk of Hypoxic Blackout and Diving Response Phases

  • When the Brain Goes Diving

  • Unlocking the depths: multiple factors contribute to risk for hypoxic blackout during deep freediving

  • Application of Near-infrared Spectroscopy in Human Elite Freedivers while Deepdiving on a Single Breath Hold

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • 5/22/2015: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6419a3.htm

• Military Medicine

  • 10/2022: Shallow Water Diving-Associated Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Active Duty Sailor: A Case Report

• Aquatics Safety Research Group by Drs. Tom and Rachel Griffiths

  • Spotify Podcast: The Drowning Files

• Redwoods Group

  • 2016: WAHC Study Poster

In Recent News

• 9/9/23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7px8x7sRouc

• 8/15/23: https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/lynxight-explain-role-of-ai-systems-in-aiding-water-safety/

• 6/19/23:https://www.ocregister.com/2023/06/19/summer-warning-prolonged-breath-holds-can-cause-shallow-water-blackouts/

• 5/29/23:https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/shallow-water-blackout-poses-a-silent-and-undetected-risk-for-swimmers-178139717784

• 1/12/23:https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2023/01/12/shallow-water-blackout-what-it-how-does-happen/10981231002/

• 8/31/22:https://www.wusa9.com/article/features/producers-picks/shallow-water-blackout-drowning-dont-hold-your-breath-swimming/65-b8ed4639-d136-4c05-9937-a892bc31afa6

Incident Tracking Sheet
**This sheet contains many of the blackouts/drownings that we have been made aware of, some confirmed and some unconfirmed. If you have an incident that should be added please reach out to us at admin@shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org