"Fan Death"

Bikewer · 29th August 2007, 05:20 PM

NPR's The World had a segment on a popular South Korean urban legend tonight,"Fan Death".
This is the notion that if you go to sleep in a closed room with a fan (or perhaps even an air conditioner) on, you'll die.
The reasons given for your untimely demise are rather vague; the reporter did several man-in-the-street interviews and got airy replies along the lines of "the fan would lower the air pressure" and similar nebulous nonsense.

And we thought the South Koreans were a saavy, technologically-advanced group.....

A university professor put up a website explaining how silly the whole idea is, and has been castigated for same, with some wanting her held responsible for "the next death".

According to the story, the myth is so widespread that fans are sold with timers.....

The Atheist · 29th August 2007, 05:38 PM

Hate to burst your bubble, mate, but the subject has had lengthy discussion here.

Strange business.

Bikewer · 30th August 2007, 09:56 AM

First I'd heard of it....

phildonnia · 30th August 2007, 10:04 AM

Trying to put this in cultural perspective, is there an American equivalent of "Fan Death"? I was thinking possibly the well-known danger of going swimming right after eating.

bjb · 30th August 2007, 10:13 AM

I remember the story about a kid dying after he ate some Pop-Rocks and drank a can of soda. I hadn't heard it was Mikey, though:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/poprocks.asp

Dogdoctor · 30th August 2007, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by phildonnia

Trying to put this in cultural perspective, is there an American equivalent of "Fan Death"? I was thinking possibly the well-known danger of going swimming right after eating.

As I recall it was you would get a cramp if you went swimming after eating certain things. I was on a swim team and often swam after eating and so did many of the team mates. Some of the teammates got stomach cramps and puked after eating especially ice cream. No one drowned but then we were in a swimming pool. I always thought there might be something to it in that some people would get violently ill if they swam after eating something and this could lead to drowning in some situations.

Bikewer · 30th August 2007, 05:09 PM

That was "common knowledge" when I was a kid back in the 50s. The nature of the "cramp" was never explained.
I seem to remember reading much later that almost all the deaths that had been attributed to cramping were in fact heart-attacks induced by the exertion of swimming...

Dogdoctor · 30th August 2007, 06:08 PM

There may be a myth associated with the swimming cramps but certain people do get cramps and vomit if they swim after eating certain foods so regardless of what anyone else says I will be skeptical that this is a totally unfounded myth (however most people don't need to worry).
The fan death is another story.

bjb · 31st August 2007, 11:12 AM

What happens if you eat pop rocks, drink soda, and then go swimming?

Dogdoctor · 31st August 2007, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by bjb

What happens if you eat pop rocks, drink soda, and then go swimming?

You have your own internal flotation device? (at least till you burp or fart) You see the combination produces gas which is lighter than water which will displace water rendering you more boyant. Of course that effect will decrease as you descend into deeper water due to compression of the gas by the increasing pressure at increasing depth.

phildonnia · 2nd September 2007, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Dogdoctor

... but certain people do get cramps and vomit if they swim after eating certain foods so regardless of what anyone else says...
The fan death is another story.

But this sounds exactly like some of the outre explanations for why "fan death" could be a danger in certain contrived situations.

29th August 2007, 05:20 PM	#1
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 5,888	"Fan Death" NPR's The World had a segment on a popular South Korean urban legend tonight,"Fan Death". This is the notion that if you go to sleep in a closed room with a fan (or perhaps even an air conditioner) on, you'll die. The reasons given for your untimely demise are rather vague; the reporter did several man-in-the-street interviews and got airy replies along the lines of "the fan would lower the air pressure" and similar nebulous nonsense. And we thought the South Koreans were a saavy, technologically-advanced group..... A university professor put up a website explaining how silly the whole idea is, and has been castigated for same, with some wanting her held responsible for "the next death". According to the story, the myth is so widespread that fans are sold with timers.....

29th August 2007, 05:38 PM	#2
The Atheist The Grammar Tyrant Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Within smelling distance of the Grammar Death Camps Posts: 13,928	Hate to burst your bubble, mate, but the subject has had lengthy discussion here. Strange business.
	__________________ Jeff Wagg, Communication and Outreach Manager for the James Randi Educational Foundation posted: It is my job to inform other JREF employees about people who wish to do the JREF harm, and you [The Atheist] are one of those.

30th August 2007, 10:13 AM	#5
bjb Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,079	I remember the story about a kid dying after he ate some Pop-Rocks and drank a can of soda. I hadn't heard it was Mikey, though: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/poprocks.asp
bjb Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,079	Last edited by bjb; 30th August 2007 at 10:13 AM. Reason: Correct spelling

30th August 2007, 11:32 AM	#6
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 12,381	Originally Posted by phildonnia Trying to put this in cultural perspective, is there an American equivalent of "Fan Death"? I was thinking possibly the well-known danger of going swimming right after eating. As I recall it was you would get a cramp if you went swimming after eating certain things. I was on a swim team and often swam after eating and so did many of the team mates. Some of the teammates got stomach cramps and puked after eating especially ice cream. No one drowned but then we were in a swimming pool. I always thought there might be something to it in that some people would get violently ill if they swam after eating something and this could lead to drowning in some situations.
	__________________

30th August 2007, 06:08 PM	#8
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 12,381	There may be a myth associated with the swimming cramps but certain people do get cramps and vomit if they swim after eating certain foods so regardless of what anyone else says I will be skeptical that this is a totally unfounded myth (however most people don't need to worry). The fan death is another story.
	__________________

30th August 2007, 09:56 AM	#3
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 5,888	First I'd heard of it....

30th August 2007, 10:04 AM	#4
phildonnia Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sac'to CA Posts: 1,999	Trying to put this in cultural perspective, is there an American equivalent of "Fan Death"? I was thinking possibly the well-known danger of going swimming right after eating.

30th August 2007, 05:09 PM	#7
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 5,888	That was "common knowledge" when I was a kid back in the 50s. The nature of the "cramp" was never explained. I seem to remember reading much later that almost all the deaths that had been attributed to cramping were in fact heart-attacks induced by the exertion of swimming...

31st August 2007, 11:12 AM	#9
bjb Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,079	What happens if you eat pop rocks, drink soda, and then go swimming?
bjb Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,079

31st August 2007, 11:52 AM	#10
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 12,381	Originally Posted by bjb What happens if you eat pop rocks, drink soda, and then go swimming? You have your own internal flotation device? (at least till you burp or fart) You see the combination produces gas which is lighter than water which will displace water rendering you more boyant. Of course that effect will decrease as you descend into deeper water due to compression of the gas by the increasing pressure at increasing depth.
	__________________

2nd September 2007, 11:27 AM	#11
phildonnia Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sac'to CA Posts: 1,999	Originally Posted by Dogdoctor ... but certain people do get cramps and vomit if they swim after eating certain foods so regardless of what anyone else says... The fan death is another story. But this sounds exactly like some of the outre explanations for why "fan death" could be a danger in certain contrived situations.