S. Korean "Fan Death"

MMM · (#1 (**permalink**))

I had never heard of "fan death" before today.

Basically there is a belief in S. Korea that if you sleep with a fan on in a closed room, you could die.

It seems this has been propagated by the government there, and they reported in 2006 that "asphyxiation from electric fans and air conditioners" was one of the five main causes of death during the summer.

Here's more:

Fan death - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's a news story.

YouTube - Fan Death Claims Another Innocent Life

Koir · (#2 (**permalink**))

Hasn't happened to me yet.

allie2590 · (#3 (**permalink**))

That sounds like something from the middle ages.

Nyororin · (#4 (**permalink**))

I sleep with a fan on at night in my room.

All year round... And have yet to die from it.

There are a number of sites out there on the net which analyze this belief in depth. It seems that dying of fan is a lot more acceptable than dying of overheating, etc, in the summer.

ThuMpeR · (#5 (**permalink**))

That's the craziest thing I've heard today. I used to sleep with the fan on in my bedroom all the time and... I'm still here.

Aniki · (#6 (**permalink**))

This is the first time I'm hearing about this.
What I really find strange is why most cases of this "fan death" are occurring in S. Korea?

Salvanas · (#7 (**permalink**))

Interesting.

Why do they think like that though? I mean, what does the fan do to kill you?

MMM · (#8 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aniki

This is the first time I'm hearing about this.
What I really find strange is why most cases of this "fan death" are occurring in S. Korea?

All cases, actually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salvanas

Interesting.

Why do they think like that though? I mean, what does the fan do to kill you?

Everything from create a vortex to suck oxygen out of the air to breaking apart oxygen molecules. I have read it was a government effort to get people to use less electricity, and so to turn off their fans and AC units at night. Media helped with the hype.

TalnSG · (#9 (**permalink**))

There are times when I cannot sleep without a fan to circulate the air and it is not because of the temp.

My younger Korean friends joke about this anytime someone mentions it, but you know what? None of them leave their ceiling fans on while sleeping.

minimin · (#10 (**permalink**))

Ha, I use to sleep with a fan on 24/7 now I just have an air conditioner haha, I hate the heat. Hmm.........??? Craziness....