carbon dioxide poisoning

• carbon dioxide poisoning = hypercapnia
• carbon dioxide is a waste product of cellular respiration
• air is roughly 0.04% carbon dioxide
• increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the body triggers breathing
• hyperventilation (breathing too fast)
• two situations where carbon dioxide in a diver's body can reach unsafe levels: concentration of carbon dioxide a diver inhales increases (due to faulty equipment) or a diver does not eliminate carbon dioxide as quickly as they produce it (breathing rate problem)
• if concentration of carbon dioxide in a diver's body reaches more than 45mgHg induces hypercapnia
• dangers of hypercapnia: loss of consciousness, narcosis, oxygen toxicity and decompression sickness
• symptoms of hypercapnia: shortness of breath, headache, narcosis, unconsciousness
• avoid hypercapnia by: using appropriate regulators, avoiding exertion, use correct breathing techniques, avoid deep diving when not trained or using appropriate gas mixtures, smell and taste tank air to check for pollutants before diving