If you’re Googling “can you pass out while skydiving” then it’s likely you’ve pulled the trigger and made your reservation to skydive but now feel panicked about all that could go wrong! Fear not kindred adventurer, feeling nervous (or completely freaked out is completely normal). In this article, we’ve got all the answers… so don’t cancel your reservation just yet!
Is Passing Out During a Skydive Possible?
Yes. It’s possible to pass out during a skydive, but while possible, it is unlikely. We’ve been in the skydiving business for over 20 years and have conducted tens of thousands of jumps, and we can count on one hand how often this has happened!
The cause for passing out during a skydive is usually related to one of three things:
- A medical condition
- Low blood sugar
- The fear of heights (acrophobia) and feeling overwhelmed
At Skydive Monroe, we have never had anyone pass out due to extreme acrophobia. The most common cause for passing out is low blood sugar and this usually occurs after the parachute is deployed.
How To Prevent Passing Out
Fainting during a skydive is a rare occurrence but as in all things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preparing for your skydive will greatly reduce the chance of passing out.
Your body is an engine, it needs to be prepared to be put through the paces because jumping from an airplane isn’t exactly a normal thing! Your body will need to be ready to respond to the rush of adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine that awaits it! Not being ready could lead you to say “night-night” and miss the whole skydiving experience altogether, and nobody wants that!
To prepare for a skydive, here’s what you need to know:
- Eat
- Hydrate
- Sleep
- Breathe
Eating Correctly
Notice we added the word “Correctly.” Eating a heart-attack-inducing breakfast from your favorite fast-food spot is definitely the wrong play. A light and nutritious meal prior to your jump is highly advised. If you’re intermittent fasting, we recommend breaking your fast and having breakfast if jumping in the morning.
The most common reason people pass out or become quite sick is by not eating at all. During the skydive, adrenaline levels will spike and if there isn’t anything in the system to sustain the spike, it could be lights out.
Hydrate
It’s not unheard of for folks to go on a bender the night before their skydive. This is a bad idea! When we recommend hydrating, it’s not with alcohol the night before! Save the libations for after the jump. It’s very important that you arrive at the skydiving facility feeling hydrated with good, old-fashioned water. It would seem that Red Bull would go hand in hand with this adventure, but it’s really not recommended. Push that water!
Sleep
Arriving at the dropzone without sleep will lead to a subpar experience. The combination of a healthy meal, proper hydration, and good sleep will set you up for success.
Breathe
It’s possible for some people to get themselves so worked up with anxiety that they pass out. This is a rarity but can happen. The key to facing any challenge and overcoming fear is to breathe correctly. Slow, deep breaths. As anyone who does yoga will testify, thinking consciously about your breath is important. Find your center and breathe through the anxiety – once you leave the aircraft, you’ll have the time of your life!
What If the Instructor Passes Out?
You may not have considered this but we have! An instructor passing out is extremely rare, but we’ve planned for this as well. Within every parachute container system (the backpack that holds the parachutes) is a small computer known as an Automatic Activation Device (AAD). The AAD is designed to measure altitude and speed and will deploy the reserve parachute when a skydiver crosses through a predetermined altitude threshold at a high rate of speed. This computer has a proven track record in reliability and serves as an added safety tool should a skydiver be unable to deploy the main parachute for any reason.
The Stats Are In Your Favor
If you’re worried about passing out, you may ultimately be worried about a slew of things related to skydiving (like death). Of course, we can’t call skydiving perfectly safe because jumping out of a plane does have inherent risks. You can indeed die while participating in a skydive, but the statistics of the sport show that skydiving is a manageable risk for most people. Each year millions of skydives are made annually.
Have questions about passing out or anything else? We’ll answer them! Feel free to contact us via e-mail, phone, Facebook message, or carrier pigeon. Whatever the method of communication, we’ll happily talk with you about skydiving!
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