Don't Wear this Snorkel Mask!
In Hawaii roughly 17 people die per year due to snorkel related deaths, but this year 10 have died in snorkel related deaths since January. This is likley due to a new type of snorkel mask dubbed the Full Faced Mask
The mask looks innocent enough, even seems like a good idea on the surface. But the unforeseen dangers of this snorkel mask can be fatal.
Water breaches your breathing tube and enters the mask, your only option to remove water is to remove the mask, but the added straps on this mask make removing the unit more difficult, and increasingly so in a stressful situation.
On a typical snorkel mask setup you need only to spit out your breathing tube and breach the surface. This time can be critical to those who have been snorkeling for an extended period of time and are already experiencing light-headedness from oxygen deprivation. CO2 buildup and the added removable time of the face-mask, coupled with the inability to breach water can cause the wearer to lose consciousness.
Some of these masks even have valves that stop water breaching, but if doing any diving this mechanism can cause a fast and dangerous buildup of CO2 in the mask as users are still able to breath while under the water. CO2 can build up even when the user is not diving.
CO2 is heavier than air and will always move to the lowest part of a container that contains a mixture of oxygen and CO2. This mask is itself a container that contains Oxygen and CO2. When you breath in and out this CO2 will build up in the mask and not be purged as readily as the Oxygen. As a result the wearer will experience light-headedness and could potentially lose consciousness from the mask after experiencing a state of oxygen depleted euphoria.
Many in the news media are reluctant to call this product out for what it is,
But here on Steemit, I care more about you guys, so do me a favor and don't wear this mask, don't let your friends and family wear this mask!
I spoke with a diving instructor of 5 years now and he had one good thing to say about the mask. "Those masks are good for population control."
Hit that like button and I will be sure to keep producing more content like this!
Powerful safety tip!
Thanks Dan! 👍 🤜🤛
I appreciate it!