by youngwill100 » Tue Feb 04, 2014 3:21 am
I worked for BOC Gases for ten years and we were constantly warning people about this.
Helium breathing can be extremely dangerous. In some cases it just takes a few deep breaths of pure helium to render you unconscious, leading to possible death.
When you suffocate it is the increasing levels of carbon dioxide that make you panic.
Because the helium is replacing the oxygen and not increasing the CO2 levels in your blood, your body doesn't react and you can just calmly slip into unconsciousness and death.
In fact Helium breathing (or Nitrogen, as it is cheaper) is a 'recommended' way to commit suicide by some of online organisations helping people with painful terminal illnesses to die.
I worked for BOC Gases for ten years and we were constantly warning people about this.
Helium breathing can be extremely dangerous. In some cases it just takes a few deep breaths of pure helium to render you unconscious, leading to possible death.
When you suffocate it is the increasing levels of carbon dioxide that make you panic.
Because the helium is replacing the oxygen and not increasing the CO2 levels in your blood, your body doesn't react and you can just calmly slip into unconsciousness and death.
In fact Helium breathing (or Nitrogen, as it is cheaper) is a 'recommended' way to commit suicide by some of online organisations helping people with painful terminal illnesses to die.