In this episode of The Breath Hold Breakdown, Britt Jackson explores the surprising truth about who is most vulnerable to underwater hypoxic blackout—and why it often affects the strongest swimmers rather than beginners. She outlines high-risk groups such as elite athletes, military personnel, freedivers, spear fishermen, and even fitness enthusiasts following viral breathwork trends. Britt also highlights why certain aquatic environments—from swim team facilities to backyard pools—are more susceptible to incidents, and she offers practical steps that can save lives.

Key Takeaways:

• Underwater hypoxic blackout often affects strong swimmers, not novices.
• High-risk groups: elite athletes, military divers, freedivers, spear fishermen, and breathwork practitioners.
• Fitness trends and social media challenges have increased fatalities since 2020.
• Children and teens are at risk due to breath-holding games and limited supervision.
• Facilities with competitive or unsupervised swimming—like resorts, gyms, and backyard pools—face higher risk.
• Prevention steps include clear signage, lifeguard and coach training, and firm no-breath-holding policies.
• Awareness campaigns, children’s resources, and coaching education play a crucial role in prevention.
• Lifeguards cannot detect blackouts from above the surface—supervision and policy are critical.

In this debut episode of The Breath Hold Breakdown, Britt Jackson shares the deeply personal origins of the Underwater Hypoxic Blackout Prevention Foundation, born from the loss of Whitner Milner and strengthened by the Watson family’s advocacy. She explains how underwater hypoxic blackout (UHB)—once known as shallow water blackout—can strike even the strongest swimmers without warning. Britt walks listeners through the science of breath-holding, the unseen dangers that make UHB uniquely deadly, and how families, lifeguards, and fitness enthusiasts alike can help prevent future tragedies.

Key Takeaways:

• Underwater hypoxic blackout occurs when a swimmer loses consciousness from lack of oxygen after prolonged breath-holding.
• The condition often affects strong, experienced swimmers and fitness enthusiasts.
• Lifeguards cannot spot an underwater blackout from above the surface.
• Families founded the UHB Prevention Foundation after personal tragedies to raise awareness and save lives.
• Educational resources like signage, data tracking, PSAs, and children’s materials are available at uhbp.org.
• Influencers and wellness trends promoting extended breath-holding can unintentionally spread unsafe practices.

In this short introduction to The Breath Hold Breakdown, Britt Jackson, Executive Director of Underwater Hypoxic Blackout Prevention, explains what underwater hypoxic blackout is—and why more people need to know about it. She talks about the strong, experienced swimmers most at risk and the families working to make sure their stories save lives. This episode introduces the mission behind the foundation and sets the stage for the conversations to come.

Why Listen to The Breath Hold Breakdown:

• Understand a silent but entirely preventable cause of drowning.
• Learn why even strong swimmers are at risk.
• Hear how families are transforming tragedy into life-saving education.
• Discover how simple awareness can protect lives in and around the water.

In this episode of the Breath Hold Breakdown, Britt Jackson discusses the critical issue of underwater hypoxic blackout, particularly in the context of viral breath-holding trends popularized on social media. She highlights the alarming increase in fatalities associated with these trends, emphasizing the need for awareness and education. 

Key Takeaways:

• Viral breath-holding trends have led to a spike in incidents since 2020.
• Social media can spread dangerous wellness trends without adequate warnings.
• Delayed warning signs make underwater hypoxic blackout particularly dangerous.
• The bystander effect can prevent timely rescue during blackouts.
• Influencers often fail to provide proper safety disclaimers in their content.

This episode focuses on aquatics facilities and personnel and their role in preventing underwater hypoxic blackout. Britt Jackson discusses the importance of awareness, education, and signage in mitigating risks, as well as the need for lifeguards to recognize red flag behaviors. The conversation also emphasizes the implementation of safety policies and guidelines for freedive training, while highlighting the invaluable role of lifeguards in ensuring safety. Additionally, various resources and tools are recommended to enhance aquatic safety efforts.

Key Takeaways:

• Signage in locker rooms can raise awareness about risks.
• Lifeguards should be trained to recognize red flag behaviors.
• Policies supporting no breath holding are essential for safety.
• Freedive training should only occur with certified instructors present.
• Lifeguards cannot see underwater hypoxic blackouts from the surface.
• Support from leadership is crucial for enforcing safety policies.
• Utilizing training materials can help lifeguards understand risks better.
• A facility safety checklist can streamline safety efforts.