## Is It True That Skydivers Breathe Through Their Skin?
Skydiving is a thrilling and exhilarating experience, but it also comes with certain risks and misconceptions. One of the most common misconceptions is that skydivers breathe through their skin. This is not true. Skydivers breathe through their mouths and noses, just like everyone else.
## Why the Misconception Exists
The misconception that skydivers breathe through their skin likely stems from the fact that they wear oxygen masks while jumping. These masks are used to provide supplemental oxygen at high altitudes, where the air is thinner and there is less oxygen available to breathe. However, the oxygen masks do not actually allow skydivers to breathe through their skin. The masks simply deliver oxygen to the mouth and nose, where it is then inhaled and transported to the lungs.
## How Skydivers Actually Breathe
Skydivers breathe through their mouths and noses, just like everyone else. The air they breathe enters their lungs, where it is exchanged for carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is then exhaled through the mouth and nose. This process of respiration is essential for life, and it is not affected by the altitude at which a person is jumping.
## Dangers of Skydiving Without Oxygen
While skydivers do not breathe through their skin, they do need to have access to oxygen in order to survive at high altitudes. The air at high altitudes is thinner and contains less oxygen than the air at sea level. This can make it difficult to breathe, and it can lead to hypoxia, a condition that occurs when the body does not have enough oxygen. Hypoxia can cause a variety of symptoms, including dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. In severe cases, hypoxia can be fatal.
To avoid hypoxia, skydivers must use oxygen masks when jumping at high altitudes. Oxygen masks deliver supplemental oxygen to the mouth and nose, which helps to prevent the body from becoming hypoxic.
## Conclusion
The misconception that skydivers breathe through their skin is not true. Skydivers breathe through their mouths and noses, just like everyone else. However, skydivers do need to use oxygen masks when jumping at high altitudes in order to avoid hypoxia.