Can You Pass Out While Skydiving?

If you’re the discerning type, you may have already looked into skydiving safety statistics and picked up on the relatively low risk presented from your upcoming tandem skydive. You know how unlikely it is to die from skydiving (a risk of .0002% to be specific). But there is something that troubles you deeply.

No, it’s not getting injured that you fear but, rather, the sheer mortifying possibility of having your skydiving video become a viral sensation because you passed out mid-air. 

You can see it now—limp legged, head hung, the brunt of the joke—and it sends shivers down your spine! Or worse yet, you might even end up “memeified”—your discomfort framed with some clever quip on the internet for ages to come. 

Before you let your mind get too far ahead—and trust us you’re not alone, we get these kinds of questions all the time—we are here to set the record straight for those who fear their dignity is at stake!

Can you pass out while skydiving?

It is possible. Yes, you can pass out while skydiving. But, it’s not a very likely scenario for you to find yourself in. The rare handful of people who experienced a lapse in consciousness while on a skydive likely made a few key mistakes.

Mistake #1: Not Eating Before A Skydive

So many people are afraid of the possibility of meeting their lunch again (if you catch our drift) that they think it wise to skip meals altogether before skydiving. These are the same folks that are unwittingly tipping the scales toward having a less than stellar time on their skydive. Your body needs a steady level of glucose to keep you feeling alert. Skipping meals can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. The combination of adrenaline dump and low blood sugar can leave you feeling woozy and, in extreme cases, can cause you to pass out.

Mistake #2: They Forgot To Breathe

For some, it is not intuitive how to breathe while skydiving. As you probably know, the brain needs a healthy flow of oxygen in order for you to remain conscious, but some people hold their breath without even realizing it. To keep this from happening to you, try to concentrate on your inhales and exhales, focusing on the feeling of air filling your lungs. This practice will ensure you keep breathing and may even help to settle your nerves a bit.

Mistake #3: They Were Already Feeling Unwell

If you’re already feeling a bit off, a skydive will rarely make the situation any better. If you are feeling sick, push your skydive to another day. When it comes to an enjoyable skydiving experience, it is better to be firing on all cylinders than puttering along.

Mistake #4: They Tossed Back A Few Too Many Cold Ones the Night Before

There is no activity on earth that is fun with a hangover. In fact, most things are considerably worse with a hangover. Skydiving is one of those things. Because of the dehydration that a heavy night of drinking causes, individuals who skydive with a hangover put themselves at an increased risk of passing out while skydiving. It is best to forgo a night of drinking before your skydive. Instead, take it easy and get a good night’s rest. Save the celebrating for after the skydive!

What happens if I pass out skydiving?

As we said above, it is highly unusual for someone to pass out while skydiving, but it can happen. Now, in the unlikely case you do pass out, what happens? On a tandem skydive, you are paired with a licensed, professional skydiving instructor. If you happen to pass out while skydiving, you are physically attached to your instructor. S/he will take the lead and will do all they can to help get you both back safely to the ground.

Do you pee when you skydive?

Those with weak bladders or incontinence issues often wonder if the “shock” of the opening parachute will cause them to pee their pants. Because of a staged deployment and the design of the parachute, typically, the parachute opening is quite soft. As far as we know, no one has peed while skydiving.

Can you have a heart attack from skydiving?

Like any physical activity, a generally healthy person should not be concerned about having a heart attack while skydiving. However, because skydiving can induce high levels of stress in certain individuals, if you have a weakened heart or a history of heart trouble, it may not be a good idea to skydive. That being said, we are not medical professionals, and so, any medical counsel concerning if your heart is fit enough to skydive should come from your primary care physician. 

It is perfectly reasonable to worry before your first skydive, but if you prepare properly for your first time skydiving experience, you can do your part to prevent discomfort on your skydive and make the unlikely even more unlikely! 

It’s easy to make excuses. Challenge yourself and get the ball rolling. You’re ready to make that jump, and we’re ready to help you!