• kiwifoxtrot@lemmy.world
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    22 days ago

    If you look up industrial accidents with nitrogen, it isn’t at all like the accounts of that execution. It takes one breath of pure nitrogen and you’ll just fade out. There have been plenty of accidents where someone connected a respirator up to nitrogen and put it on, and they passed out immediately and didn’t even know to take it off. If you are trying to hold your breath for as long as you can, it is very painful as the buildup of CO2 in the body is what triggers us to breathe.

    • Free_Opinions@feddit.uk
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      21 days ago

      Yeah, that’s the thing with gasses like nitrogen, helium or carbon monoxide: it feels like breathing air except since it contains no oxygen you’ll just go from feeling light headed to passing out and suffocating. CO2 would otherwise work the same way except that inhaling pure CO2 instantly causes panic and the sense of suffocation.

      Infact, I’ve heard of people who euthanize pet rodents with CO2 and recommend others doing the same which is terrifyingly bad advice. That’s a fucking awful way to go. Just imagine being so ignorant and doing that to your pet. Makes me feel sick to even think about it.