has already arrived heat to much of the northern hemisphere. It is not something we should celebrate, since it is clear that it has come too soon. But, since it’s here, many people have anticipated summer activities like going to the beach to sunbathe, swim, dive or snorkel. For this, in recent years it has become fashionable to replace the typical tubes with full face masks. They are comfortable, of course, but many scientists advise that people with respiratory or heart conditions should be warned of the problem they pose.
There have already been some deaths in people who were snorkeling with them. In some, causality could be demonstrated and in others not; but, even so, many scientists agree on the causes why they can pose a risk to life.
It is paradoxical, since these snorkel masks they saved many lives when used as respirators early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the scarcity of these devices, anyone who could donate yoursto. And, seen what has been seen, it seems that they were better off in hospitals than on the beaches.
Why are these snorkel masks dangerous?
In an article on this topic published in Business Insider There are several cases of accidents, some fatal and others not, in which these snorkel masks posed a danger.
One of these stories is that of sally standleya woman of 59 years who nearly died on vacation in the Seychelles while leisurely snorkelling. She suddenly felt dizzy and limp. She barely made it to a 2 meter buoy, where she lost consciousness. When she took off her mask, her skin was blue and she foamed at her mouth. Logically, she was transferred to a hospital where she spent several days in a coma. They thought that the lack of oxygen would leave her in a vegetative state or with serious sequelae, but she was lucky and she survived without problems.
not so lucky Angela Kearna woman of 63 years, who died while snorkeling in the Red Sea. During the autopsy, it was concluded that she had died from a pulmonary edema, possibly caused by the snorkel mask. This makes it more difficult to take air in than a normal tube, so a negative pressure is generated in the lungs. Additionally, carbon dioxide accumulates in the dead spaces of the mask, making breathing even more difficult. All of this can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs, especially if you have previous pulmonary or cardiac pathologies. In Angela’s case, she was taking menopausal hormone replacement therapy, which put her at increased risk for these conditions.
harder to ask for help
On top of all this, if there were to be a problem, like Sally’s, removing a full mask to call for help is much more difficult than just drop snorkel. This actually applies to any other complications that may arise while diving. Therefore, if you are thinking of taking advantage of the arrival of the heat to snorkel with these masks, check that you are not a person at risk and, just in case, do not go alone. It doesn’t have to be dangerous, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.