Dislocated shoulder during freefall - EMERGENCY PROCEDURE!

[SStewart 13]

Quote

Where's the option for re-locating your shoulder under canopy?

I was thinking the same thing.

Last winter I dislocated my left shoulder during a skiing mishap and I just instinctively grabbed it right below the elbow and pulled up which caused it to pop right back in. I had never had a shoulder injury before so it just happened automatically without thinking. It was only out for a few seconds max.

I was in some pain but I was able to ski the rest of the way down in discomfort, I have no doubt I could have pulled a toggle with it if I had been in the air.

I had another injury to the same shoulder a few months after reconstructive surgery during an AFF practice jump but it did not come all the way out. I only found out after an MRI the following week the extent of the damage. It was painful to lift my arm over my head but I managed to land no problem. I even made a few more jumps that same day but it was really uncomfortable. The next morning I was in such pain I had to drop out of the course before I could finish the eval dives.

Anyway, after another round of arthoscopy I am back jumping again but I am very careful as to what kind of jumps I do (no launching big chunks with someone holding on to my left arm, etc.) Not sure at this point when or if I will finish the AFF course.

If it were to come out again in freefall I think I would first try to pop it back in (altitude permitting) If not I would dump the main and then try to work it out. If I could not get it back in under canopy I would still have the option to chop the main and fire the reserve with my right arm and land the reserve at half brakes with a PLF

Rather than try to flare a high performance ZP with one arm I would rather take my chances with a docile seven cell f-111 reserve with the brakes stowed. I have enough round jumps that I would feel comfortable with a well executed PLF. Steer to the landing area with my good arm and a riser.

If it were to happen with a right arm I would just go straight to the reserve and do the same thing.

Onward and Upward!

[sky-pimp 0]

4th jump i dislocated my left arm because i pumped the toggles that hard thinking my parachute was not opening right.At that low jump number at that time a snivel was a big thing and it shit me up. I steered both toggles with right hand and hit the deck not to bad under a large canopy.
Out of action for 10 months, after speaking to everyone i could find how had dislocated in the sport i came to the conclusion that surgery is the very last resort.
i went in the tunnel before i jumped again to give myself the confidence that my arm was going to be OK.

YeHaaaaaaaaaaa

[cderham 0]

Was at the DZ when a jumper had this happen. He deployed his reserve and by luck of the draw. Opening shock relocated his right Shoulder.

Chris
It's Jimmy Time!!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Fast-As-Fuck/6099474213

[erdnarob 1]

A good friend of mine dislocated his shoulder in free fall without having been slammed in the door or whatever. Just the pressure of the air on his arm was enough to make that happen. Fortunately at opening the shoulder came back in place. How he managed to pull the main, well, I have to ask him again. I think he was just able to barely pull the main pilot chute out of its pocket.
Since that happened several times, he has consulted a shoulder specialist who told him that he was born with too long or too loose ligaments in the shoulders. Maybe he should have seen another specialist since with the proper surgery they are making almost "miracles" with the shoulders now. Unfortunately my friend quitted skydiving after seeing one single specialist.
Back to your problem.
If you cannot reach the main activation handle because your right shoulder is dislocated, you still have your reserve which could be pulled with the left arm.
If your left shoulder has the problem, you can pull the main and, if needed, pull the reserve handle with the right arm. In any case you still have to maintain a minimum of stability if that kind of problem occurs

Learn from others mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all.