How can I make myself hyperventilate to do the shallow water blackout?

[purplesky9]

Am interested in trying this. You have to make yourself hyperventilate then hold your breath underwater. This will make you pass out and drown painlessly. I like the idea of this. It sounds easy but it probably isn't.

 

[SomewhatLoved]

I think in the SWB megathread there are people that discuss how to do this.

What's worked for me is to be in a sitting position, hyperventilate for several minutes, then quickly stand up and hold your breath. Also put your thumb in your mouth and "blow" against it creating pressure. I recorded myself doing this and after a few seconds of holding pressure I passed out and then fell to my side. I had no recollection afterwards.

The only issue with this is that you would most likely wake up a few seconds after, and then just drown or pull yourself out of the water. To keep yourself knocked out you have to keep blood from getting to your brain continuously, aka asphyxiating yourself. Obviously not fun.

I'm not an expert on the method, maybe there's a better way to do it.

 

[purplesky9]

I knew it was probably to good to be true

 

[PotentiallyWasted]

I knew it was probably to good to be true

That other person is not right by the way; if you do manage to lose consciousness underwater by any means (in this case hyperventilating then blowing into your thumb) you're dead if you don't poke your head out of the water and rescue doesn't arrive in less than 10 minutes.

Proof:

Loss of Consciousness

When diving, it is essential to prevent the loss of consciousness underwater at all costs. Learn what causes to look out for in order to manage and minimise the risk of incapacitation. Humans are not designed for living underwater. Diving is, and remains, a very unnatural activity. The only...

www.dansa.org

Essentially it confirms that the lethality comes from losing consciousness underwater (LOCUS) regardless of why you're unconscious underwater in the first place.