NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing Zone => Safety First => Topic started by: Hydrospider on February 07, 2018, 08:56:02 PM
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Getting to know the Owens river and other local creeks will involve a lot of snorkeling. I wanted a mask that had a GoPro mount and decided to try a full face style. It's comfortable and my vision is largely unobstructed.
Around the end of January, I started noticing media that was attributing an increase in snorkeling deaths around the Hawaiian Islands to this style of mask. One possible reason was Co2 retention and it seemed like a logical possibility.
I just happen to have access to a EtCo2 monitor so I decided to give the mask a test.
I kept the mask on for just over 15 minutes and stayed within normal values even when trying to elevate my numbers with some hypoventilation. Ive decided to go ahead and use the mask but with some increased awareness that Co2 retention may be possible.
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I don't believe the article says the CO2 retention happens every time the mask is used. But the suggestion was to not go out alone.
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Two years ago in Kauai my buddy Danny tried one out which was brand new and said 1 out of 3 times the valve didn’t open back up after resurfacing from a dive. We bought our son one to help him learn to snorkel but he won’t be diving with it.
Cheers
Nick
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Did the BVM ETC02 adapter fit on the snorkel? Hahaha nice.
I got bored and test my Sp02 while doing dive tables one day in the back. Cool watching it drop and rise and getting a better understanding of the timeline.
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I don't believe the article says the CO2 retention happens every time the mask is used. But the suggestion was to not go out alone.
From page 1 of my search. Im not convinced that the masks are dangerous yet, but it's enough to have my attention before getting into moving water.
http://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2018/01/safety-questions-surface-for-full-faced-snorkel-masks/
https://www.saltydogs.com/full-face-snorkel-mask-death-11344/
http://www.ktvu.com/news/recent-snorkel-deaths-prompts-investigation-into-full-faced-snorkel-masks
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/drown-snorkeling-death-hawaii-maui-east-bay-12537117.php
http://www.civilbeat.org/2017/03/how-one-womans-snorkeling-death-might-help-save-lives/
http://www.civilbeat.org/2018/01/six-recent-drownings-on-maui-heighten-ocean-safety-concerns/
There is certainly enough momentum that you can't blame Stone85 for not trusting it for his child.
Did the BVM ETC02 adapter fit on the snorkel?
I used the nasal cannula type but might switch to the ETT adaptor next time.
I didn't test this correctly. I should have increased my respiratory rate and added some exertion to flood the mask with Co2 and then see how hypercarbic I get.
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I have continued to catch negative media about the full face masks being the cause in a increase in snorkeling deaths. It is the same stories just different sources. Some of the sources seem to elude that all of the snorkeling deaths during the reported increase were of folks wearing the full face mask. Others are more clear as that was not the case.
I did a follow up test with the ETCo2 monitor.
This time, I put the mask and monitor on and started doing push-ups. Got my respiratory rate up and flooded the mask with my exhaled Co2.
While my Co2 numbers did increase slightly, they never went beyond a normal range.
The mask is ventilating.
As I had already decided, Im going to use the mask with confidence and awareness.
Still, Im glad I did this test again with a better approach.