Comments by "" (@jmitterii2) on "Why You Should Put YOUR MASK On First (My Brain Without Oxygen) - Smarter Every Day 157" video.

  1. Important addition to Hypoxia in aviation: Another thing to add, some aircraft at or above 40,000 MSL including A380 require pressurized O2 to alleviate harmful effects of hypoxia. Airlines tend to always provide pilots with O2 masks that deliver pressurized O2. You may still feel the effects of hypoxia for a moment as a passenger since those masks only deliver 100% non-pressurized O2. So always fix your mask first, then help others. And you may still suffer some effects of hypoxia if at altitude that would require pressurized O2. The concept is that the pilot will immediately descend to altitude that doesn't need pressurized O2 (below 40,000 MSL), and eventually below 14,000/12,000 MSL where supplemental O2 shouldn't be required by the general population. Another big point: hypoxia at altitude is not the same as holding your breath. The reduced pressure causes all gasses to expand, which includes O2 in your blood and organs to come out of solution faster than usual; like opening a fizzy drink; except that's O2 fizzing out of your body very quickly. Holding your breath won't help you with anything, in fact it will only make things worse. Amount of time of useful consciousness decrease per altitude and most airlines cruise at 30,000 up to 44,000 MSL: FL250 (25,000 ft; 7,600 m) 3 to 6 minutes FL280 (28,000 ft; 8,550 m) 2.5 to 3 minutes FL300 (30,000 ft; 9,150 m) 1 to 3 minutes FL350 (35,000 ft; 10,650 m) 30 secs to 1 minute FL400 (40,000 ft; 12,200 m) 15 to 20 seconds FL430 (43,000 ft; 13,100 m) 9 to 15 seconds FL500 (50,000 ft; 15,250 m) 6 to 9 seconds You literally have seconds in many cases. Rapid decompression event, don't try to hold your breath or inhale when you hear the boom; either can tear your lungs, and can result in death. You likely will feel a sucking sensation, allow that to correspond with an exhalation. Once you fully exhaled, begin breathing as normal, and don O2 asap. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_of_useful_consciousness
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