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Assisted lifeguard technology company Lynxight has shared its advice and experience on the vital role of AI systems in ensuring safety during water-based activities.

Shallow water blackouts (SWB), or hypoxic blackouts, have turned many days of aquatic fun into tragedy, posing a threat even to those frolicking in shallow depths.

They occur under four conditions related to oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the body prior to breath-holding.

These conditions are low CO2, low O2, normal levels of both, or low levels of both during competitive situations.

Hyperventilation before breath-holding can exacerbate the risk, as it diminishes the amount of circulating CO2, decreasing the urge to breathe and causing individuals to hold their breath longer than is safe. Underwater pressure changes in deeper water can also contribute to blackouts. Besides these, fatal outcomes can result from larynx spasms, fatal cardiac arrhythmias, or seizures induced by hypoxia. SWBs are severe oxygen deprivation to the brain, posing significant risks to swimmers practicing breath-holding underwater.

In the simplest of terms, a shallow water blackout occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen to function correctly.

Where Do Shallow Water Blackouts Occur?
Shallow water blackouts predominantly occur in settings where individuals engage in breath-hold diving, often within swimming pools. Even though it is associated with deep free-dives and rebreather or open-circuit scuba diving, the occurrence of shallow water blackouts in swimming pools makes this a more widespread concern. Therefore, raising public awareness and implementing preventative measures, especially at public pools, are critical steps to reduce instances of this potentially deadly condition.

Shallow Water Blackouts: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
Preventing shallow water blackouts is a multifaceted approach, consisting of education, training, and technological innovation. Organisations such as USA-based Underwater Hypoxic Blackout Prevention (the former Shallow Water Blackout Prevention Foundation) aim to raise awareness about this deadly phenomenon through education and training. These educational initiatives highlight the potential dangers of SWB, emphasize the importance of early warning signs, and teach how to minimize the risk of a shallow water blackout.

Innovation
Innovating in this space AI-based drowning prevention system Lynxight uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies to monitor swimmers in real-time, alerting lifeguards and other pool safety personnel about potential threats before they become incidents.

By incorporating Lynxight into pool safety protocols, facilities can significantly decrease the occurrences of shallow water blackouts.

Other Swimming Risks
Aside from shallow water blackouts, other types of drowning present a threat to swimmers. These include dry drowning, where water does not enter the lungs but causes a spasm in the airway, leading to asphyxiation, and secondary drowning, where a small amount of water gets into the lungs and causes a delayed reaction that can result in breathing difficulties.

RLSS UK and GLL collaborate with Lynxight
RLSS UK, the UK's leading swimming pool water safety organisation, and GLL, the UK's leading leisure trust and largest public swimming pool operator, have announced a tripartite collaboration with Lynxight.

This ground-breaking partnership aimed to thoroughly test the Lynxight system with a view to revolutionising how lifeguards and operators safeguard pool users across the UK and Ireland.

For over 30 years, RLSS UK has been at the forefront of supporting pool operators with qualifications, guidance, consultancy, and expert training to meet evolving water safety challenges. Embracing technology as a means to enhance safety and support lifeguards and pool operators, RLSS UK and Lynxight, with GLL’s expertise and support, is introducing an innovative and affordable new solution for pool risk management. This collaboration reaffirms RLSS UK's commitment to being the leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding, sharing expertise, and providing everyone with the skills to save lives and enjoy water safely.

RLSS UK Chief Executive, Robert Gofton commented "after several years of investigating how technology and AI would impact lifeguarding and lifesaving, we are thrilled to announce this partnership with Lynxight. We believe this system will elevate swimming pool safety, making pools even safer for everyone."

During a successful six-month trial by GLL, they were able to adapt, test and refine the system to meet the stringent needs of UK pool operators.

Enhanced metrics generated also helped to optimise swimming pool operations, including real-time insights into pool usage, swimmer numbers, and detailed data for each lane or pool area. The positive results and feedback from the trial have generated immense interest, with GLL planning to install the Lynxight system in a number of their swimming pools over the coming months.

Click here for more information on Underwater Hypoxic Blackout Prevention.

Click here to contact Lynxight via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Images: Shallow water blackout occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen to function correctly (top, credit: Shutterstock), middle and lower images courtesy of Lynxight.

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