Discussion Failed exit bag attempt: Helium vs Nitrogen

[HadItAll]

I've heard that Helium exit bag failures can lead to permanent voice change and vocal cord damage.

Is this true?

And is there anything similar to consider when a Nitrogen attempt fails?

 

[HayBunny23]

Not the expert, but from what I've read, helium shouldn't leave lasting effects like that. The reason your voice changes is due to the way sound travels and vibrates thru the lighter air, not a change in the vocal cord vibration itself. It shouldn't leave lasting damage if you fail, at most, brain damage from lack of oxygen (you'd probably succeed at ctb before someone safes you at this point)
The biggest "horror" I've seen related to helium deaths was using an incorrect method and tank, where there was no air regulator and the lungs popped like a balloon.

 

[GasMonkey]

If by fail do you mean surviving with permanent damage, that's impossible unless somebody rescues you at the PRECISE POINT in time when enough damage has happened to leave you a VeGGiE but not enough damage to stop the breathing/heart function so you can then breath air and survive. Mental gymnastics at its finest.