Question:
Might have been, but here is what happens with leg straps that are too tight. On opening, blood is 'sloshed' to the lower extremities. Blood return from the legs is relatively poor and the leg straps act like a tourniquet (diminishing venous return to the core without directly impeding arterial flow) and 'captures' or 'pools' blood in the legs that cannot now be used for things like perfusing the brain. Contrary to popular belief, return of blood from the lower extremeties is not primarily due to the pumping action of the heart (while in a more or less upright position) but from muscle contraction of the legs. If you dissect one of the large veins in the leg you will see a series of 'pouches' in the vein wall, with the open end toward the torso. Each time you contract your lower leg muscles, you force the blood upward. When the muscles relax, the blood falls back into the pouches until the next muscle contraction, when it is squeezed higher. This is one of the reasons you see varicose veins in people who have jobs where they spend a lot of time standing (not walking) and women who wear high heals (it's also a big reason for their upper thighs and asses turn to flab, but's that another subject). Not having regular muscle contraction to promote return, the blood 'pools' in the pouches which loose their elasticity over the years and start to bag out resulting in varicose veins and clot formation. So what does all this have to do with skydiving??? In addition to properly fitting leg straps, you can help promote blood return (and thereby help to stay conscious) by strongly contracting your leg muscles several times in about 1-2 second intervals.

Answer: -The overly tight leg straps probably cut off the circulation from the femoral arteries and veins, leading to the "black-out." It has happened many times before. Passengers pass out for a variety of reasons. The new Relative Workshop harness seems to avoid that problem by relieving pressure from that area. -As a paramedic for 16 years and a tandem master for 6 years. I can tell you that most of the black outs you see involving students, doesn't have to do with the harness. It's a medical problem called "psychogenic shock". It's defined as: a fainting spell as a result of transient generalized vasodilatation in response to a sudden emotional stimulus. They are fainting to do the fact that all their major blood vessels are dilating causing the blood to rush away from their brains to the legs and trunk. I have seen it caused by a sudden sharp pain, but not the dull throbbing discomfort of the harness. Some symptoms that you may or may not be seen are: cool and clammy skin, sweating. nausea or vomiting. From my experience you can expect no cooperation from your student so get ready to protect him and once you land get his feet and legs elevated. Keep the student lying down until qualified medical help arrives.