Hyperventilation Bag
Often in TV, a character who is panicking will be shown inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag to calm down. In milder examples, it can be used to cure hiccups. Actually Truth in Television, as breathing into a paper bag is a good way to reduce the symptoms of hyperventilation,[1] according to The Other Wiki. However, one should never use a plastic bag for this, because suffocation will ensue.
Examples of Hyperventilation Bag include:
Anime and Manga
- In the manga adaptation of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji has a panic attack and Kaworu, not being able to find a paper bag, kisses him.
Live Action TV
- Happens in one episode of Perfect Strangers.
- Josie Gibson, a contestant on Big Brother, did this once.
- Rachel is show breathing into a paper bag during the Friends pilot.
- Also happens to Janice in another episode.
- In one of the many flashbacks on Lost, Hurley is seen breathing into a Mr. Clucks bag in a parking lot.
- On one episode of Diff'rent Strokes, Adelaide the housekeeper uses a paper bag to ward off an epileptic seizure.
Film
- Runt of the Litter from Chicken Little. He hyperventilates so hard he accidentally swallows the bag, then is seen breathing on two bags at once.
- Referenced in Monsters vs. Aliens when Ginormica first sees the giant robot they have to fight.
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Ginormica: I can't fight that thing! I've never... I'm hyperventilating! Does anybody have a giant paper bag? |
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- RJ in Over the Hedge did this once.
Western Animation
- My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Spike does this on "A Dog And Pony Show" after Rarity has been kidnapped.
- On The Simpsons, in the episode "Lisa's Rival", when Lisa does this after meeting a girl who appears to be smarter than she is.
- Seen in Rocket Power.
- Carver does this once in The Weekenders.
- ↑ Hyperventilating causes you to lose carbondioxide too quickly, causing dizziness and fainting. The bag helps you retain it.