## What Happens if You Sneeze or Cough While Scuba Diving?
Sneezing or coughing while scuba diving can be a disconcerting experience, especially for first-time divers. However, it’s important to stay calm and follow the proper procedures to ensure your safety.
### Physiology of Sneezing and Coughing
When you sneeze or cough, your diaphragm contracts and forces air out of your lungs through your nose and mouth. This sudden expulsion of air can affect your buoyancy and cause you to lose control of your ascent.
### Effects on Buoyancy
Sneezing: Sneezing typically produces a shorter burst of air than coughing, so the effect on buoyancy is usually minimal. However, if you sneeze with enough force, it can cause you to ascend slightly.
Coughing: Coughing, on the other hand, can expel a significant amount of air, causing a more rapid and pronounced ascent. This can be especially dangerous if you’re near the surface or making a safety stop.
### Risks
Ascent: The sudden surge of air can lift you up too quickly, causing decompression sickness or other injuries.
Lung overexpansion: Excessive air in the lungs can cause lung overexpansion, which can damage lung tissue.
Loss of control: Sneezing or coughing can momentarily distract you and cause you to lose control of your depth and orientation.
### Proper Procedures
Maintain calm: It’s crucial to stay calm and avoid panicking.
Signal your buddy: Tap your buddy on the shoulder and alert them that you’re sneezing or coughing.
Control your ascent: If you feel yourself ascending, try to control it by exhaling slowly and using your fins to stabilize yourself.
Use your regulator: If you need to sneeze or cough, use your regulator to breathe instead of holding your breath. This will prevent lung overexpansion.
Ascend slowly: After sneezing or coughing, make sure to ascend slowly and perform safety stops to prevent decompression sickness.
### Other Considerations
Clear your mask: Sneezing or coughing can fog up your mask, so be sure to clear it as soon as possible.
Cover your mouth: Use a handkerchief or your hand to cover your mouth while sneezing or coughing to prevent the spread of germs.
Instruct your buddy: Before diving, brief your buddy on the proper procedures to follow if you sneeze or cough while diving.
### Prevention
While it’s not always possible to prevent sneezing or coughing, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood:
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids before and during your dive to thin mucus and prevent congestion.
Avoid irritants: Stay away from known irritants such as smoke, dust, and pollution.
Take decongestants: If you have allergies or a cold, consider taking decongestants to help clear your sinuses.
Conclusion
Sneezing or coughing while scuba diving can be a potential hazard, but by following the proper procedures and taking precautions, you can minimize the risks and ensure a safe dive. Maintaining calm, controlling your ascent, and communicating with your buddy are essential for maintaining safety in such situations.
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