An underwater swimming game may lead to children drowning

Children should not hold their breath in underwater games.Photo byBenjamin L. JonesonUnsplash

Water safety may save lives

The Virginia Department of Health reports that Virginians drown every four days during the summer. An added concern this summer is a dangerous underwater game.

Fox News reports that a Pennsylvania mother lost two of her six children when they drowned in a relative's pool. The siblings were strong swimmers who were playing the Marco Polo game. They were holding their breath while underwater and did not resurface.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that "dangerous underwater breath-holding behaviors" can lead to involuntary drowning in otherwise healthy people. Swimmers can suffer from "hypoxic blackout" or "breath-hold blackout," which can lead to death.

Dangerous trends, TikTok and Virol challenges, have a way of trickling into Virginia from other states, which is why parents should warn their children not to play underwater games in which they hold their breath.