Shallow Water Blackout Prevention

A Mother’s Tragic Story

Photograph of Whitner on his last day at the

Atlanta Steeplechase on April 16, 2011

Whitner was found in

the deep end on the

bottom of our pool

just beyond the ladder

under our dog

Gene Whitner Milner III Obituary

Whitner was born at Piedmont Hospital December 10, 1985 to Rhonda Dawes Milner, MD and Gene Whitner “Dusty” Milner, Jr., and was preceded in death by his grandfathers Gene Whitner “Jicker” Milner and William Alger Dawes, Jr., and step-grandfather Major General L. Render Braswell, MD.

Whitner was a 2004 graduate of Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2009, where he was a member of Chi Phi fraternity. He was an avid lacrosse player at Woodward, where he received the most improved player award as team captain his senior year. Whitner was a near scratch golfer and spent his spare time golfing, hunting, fishing, snow skiing, and boating. He also ran a half marathon with his

mother without training, finishing in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Whitner was an avid spear fisherman and an accomplished free-diver who could hold his breath for over 3 minutes. He loved animals and was devoted to his labs, Red and Bella.

Gene Whitner Milner III went to be with his heavenly father April 17, 2011. He died in a tragic accident in the family swimming pool in Atlanta.

AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL

SHALLOW WATER BLACKOUT PREVENTION

Atlanta Journal Constitution Article June 27, 2011

Atlanta Journal Constitution’s article on Shallow Water Blackout called

“Underwater blackout a dangerous game.”

Drew Brislen

Michele Brislen, widow of 40 year-old free diver Andrew Brislen, wants to educate people about the danger of shallow water blackout, which led to her husband’s death near Laguna’s Picnic Beach on May 26, 2011.

Friend of Cousin dies in FL Jacob Fowler

Jacob Fowler drowned June 27th, 2011 at the age of 22.

Fowler was a counselor at Camp Kulaqua, where he was attempting to dive to the bottom of the lake.

July 13, 2011

Jonathan Proce and Bohdan Vitenko

Drown in 3 feet of water in a Staten Island Public Pool

David Heiner died June 18, 2008, at the age of 19. David was in critical condition after a near drowning accident at Cedarbrook Country Club in Charlotte, NC. He was a honor student at Utah State University.

Clifford Nyquist age 15 died November 7th, 2004 in a drowning accident at his schools private swimming pool. In 4 ft of water. Clifford was a star athlete and a straight A student when his life was tragically cut short from Shallow Water Blackout.

Victims’ Memorials

Jimmy Funk Died 50 years ago

Forest James Funk III, died swimming

alone at Lake Rabun at age 17 in 1962. He was a wrestler and athlete at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Ga. He also enjoyed scuba diving, and he and his father, a physician, had used a spear gun swimming under their boat dock. At Westminster he was a Junior Superlative. There is a Wrestling award in his honor. They presumed that the death was from hyperventilating and breathe-holding.

Survivor stories

Survivor stories are important because they emphasize there is no warning and the fitness of the victims having nothing to do with their risk. Also, intentional hyperventilation may not be involved.

Summer 2011 Chase M. a 26 year-old male was swimming competitively with friends breath-holding passes out underwater and is rescued. He knew Whitner and how he died.

Summer 2010 Cason, Whitner’s 22 year-old brother, swims underwater with his brother without hyperventilation emerges cyanotic.

Fall 2005 Brian Larue practicing brick-walking breath-holding passes out underwater.

Summer 1986 Julian Otley, 15 years-old, becomes unconscious swimming underwater.

Athletic Business September 2011 The Deathly Shadows

Victims of shallow water blackout are often:

Participants in underwater breath-holding contests and Can drown within two and a half minutes.

Read the rest of this article here: http://athleticbusiness.com/editors

GAME ON - GAME OVER

Aquatics International November/December 2011 “Deathly Shallow’s” Article

A poorly understood phenomenon is killing strong swimmers. Experts say it’s time for the aquatics industry to take action or face the consequences. Please read the article in Aquatics International here: http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2011/nov/1111_breathe.html

Vincent Lemmer

My gentle nephew, Vincent Lemmer aged 21, died 11 December 2011.

He was a qualified Dive Master and loved to be under the water.

He went for a dive in the scuba training pool "cave". And never came out.

We miss you so Vincent.

This email was received from Johannesburg, South Africa on Christmas Eve. This is a Global Problem.

Sat Dec 24 07:52:12 2011

Subject: Vincent Lemmer

Clarion Signage

Goals

Signage at public pools

Children to grow up knowing underwater breath-holding is dangerous not a game

Warning labels on spearfishing equipment

Online safety course for spearfishing and freediving

Spear-hunting fishing license requiring safety course

LIFE IS PRECIOUS

SWB PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

PAST

WWII: U.S. Diver’s Manual describes SWB

YMCA: All “On the Guard” texts

1983: ARC Lifeguarding Manual warns of SWB

1985: Sport SCUBA Diving in Depth

1995: ARC Lifeguarding Manual describes SWB

1995: Silent but Deadly; Dying for Air;

7 Deadly Sins (A.I., A.B.)

Present

Current ARC Lifeguarding texts make vague references to hyperventilation.

2008: David Blaine holds his breath on the Oprah Winfrey Show

2008: 3 YMCA swimmers die of SWB, 3 Synchronized swimmers pass out simultaneously

2008: Shallow Water Blackout video released

2008: Safety Training for Swim Coaches (ARC, USA Swimming) ban hypoxic training.

Future

Dr. Rhonda Milner extraordinary efforts through SWBP.org. Victim memorials wanted.

2012 ARC Manual promises to have huge warnings vs. SWB

Redwoods Insurance Group stresses SWB warnings to lifeguards at JCC and YMCA through print and video

Clarion Safety Systems develop FIRST ANSI/ISO/DOT compliant SWB Warnings

!!!ZERO TOLERANCE!!!

BAN: long breath-holding, U/W swimming, hypoxic training in ALL POOLS!

EDUCATE: Health Departments, MAHC, Schools, P&R, Admins., and others!

POST: CLEAR, CONCISE, WARNINGS in three conspicuous places (3 strikes)

GET: Administrators, Supervisors, Lifeguards, and patrons all on the same page

BOMBARD: Coaches with literature

BREATH

HOLDING

Thank You!

Dr. Rhonda Milner:

www.shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org

Dr. Tom Griffiths:

www.aquaticsafetyresearchgroup.com