Don.Key 0 #1 May 15, 2005 Hi there, I am thinking about doing an AFF soon, so I came here for some read. Hehe, this probably sounds wicked, but after some time on the boards it all seems like everyone has some fractures or popped joints from skydiving. Are there skydivers with many jumps and no moderate/serious injuries whatsoever? Also, does anyone have a approx total number of jumps plus recorded number of accidents and fatalities for skydiving? Is that really "safer then driving a car" as people in my future AFF school said? Cheers Don Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chutem 0 #2 May 15, 2005 Safer than a driveing a yugo in a figure 8 race maybe, but I'm not sure. The level of danger will depend greatly on you, and your actions. In my opinion it will always be more dangerous than driveing a car. 1st thing to learn is not to trust advise from low time jumpers from the internet such as myself. I'm sure some more experienced jumpers can quote some statistics compareing safety driveing with jumping. In my "low time" opinion the reward is well worth the risk!!!!!!!!! James Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattjw916 2 #3 May 15, 2005 It is NOT safer than driving a car... yes you can get injured or die on ANY skydive. With that said I know plenty of skydivers that have never been seriously injured in thousands of jumps. I have never been injured either.NSCR-2376, SCR-15080 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooknswoop 19 #4 May 15, 2005 QuoteAre there skydivers with many jumps and no moderate/serious injuries whatsoever? 3333 jumps, no injuries. Derek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huka551 0 #5 May 15, 2005 Nevered injured more then my pride Muff Brother 3723 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamsr 0 #6 May 15, 2005 there is always the "it's safer to jump out of a plane than it is to drive to the DZ" quote, and although statistically you're more likely to be injured/killed in a car accident you generally spend much more time driving than you do skydiving. skydiving is undoubtedly more risky than driving, but still the risks are low, and with modern gear, and all the rules in place it's made as safe as possible. The real question is are you willing to accept the risks? even though the risks are small, skydiving is still relatively dangerous compared to most things you do in life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #7 May 15, 2005 Bumps...bruises...ego bruised a few times ...nothing major/moderate in 293 jumps. **knocking on wood** However, as has already been mentioned, you can do everything right in this sport and still die.Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skykittykat 0 #8 May 15, 2005 QuoteIt is NOT safer than driving a car... yes you can get injured or die on ANY skydive. Any time you get into a car, you can get injured or injure others... Crossing the road is more dangerous. A bit of useless info - more people get killed by donkeys every year than by skydiving. Horse riding and mountain biking are more dangerous than skydiving - at least skydivers have 2 chances, ie 2 canopies and the training to implement emergency procedures and to land safely. Saying all that, do not take skydiving and it't dangers lightly. Most injuries and deaths today are caused by pilot error. There is a saying that "remember when sex was safe and skydiving was dangerous? My 2 cents worth... Liz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybill 19 #9 May 15, 2005 Hi D.K., At 120 M.P.H. constantly be aware of objects moving at speeds significantly slower than you are......like the earth, for one. Also beware of the door!! Lots of bruises, broken bones and ripped off flesh can be attributed to this skydiving device!! Most uninitiated skydivers will worry about the parachute "NOT" opening!! That's the least of your worrys in that respect, it's the "Hard Openings" that get your attention, (know what I mean???) PS, Been at this sport for 40+ yrs, 3 screws in my right ankle (31MAR73) and lots of bruises, cuts, abrasions and you-name-it!! Like I told the cops at my last auto accident when Whilly Ray (Drunk as a skunk) took out me and my Chevy S-10 (turned me and it up-side-down and totaled it!!) ,"Like dude, if I'm no more tore up than I would be making 4 10-man speed stars, than I'm O.K.!!!!" You had to have been there in the old daze of small door Beech 18's to know where I'm comming from!!!! As Derral Defratis would say,"Ohhhhh the pain, the terrible terrible pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" But he'd still make the next load!! Will you?????????????????????????SCR-2034, SCS-680 III%, Deli-out Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #10 May 15, 2005 I only have 110 jumps, and I know I am going to piss off karma by saying this... I have sprained an ankle and gotten some road rash skydiving, however my "injuries" are much less than the tail bone I broke snowboarding, the knee I dislocated paragliding, the rib I broke on my motorcycle, the knee I sprained rollerblading with my dog, or the head injury from wakeboarding... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #11 May 15, 2005 Quote A bit of useless info - more people get killed by donkeys every year than by skydiving. And by vending machines too... Vending machines kill more people every year than sharks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daveb 1 #12 May 15, 2005 Almost 2600 jumps with nothing more than a black eye from 4way and a 3-month sore (but not debilitating) back from insta-canopy. The sport is as safe as you make it. Do stupid stuff, expect to be rewarded in kind. But even the best and safest make mistakes, and this sport is unforgiving of mistakes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karenmeal 0 #13 May 15, 2005 Not a single injury here. I attribute it to a low testosterone. -karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #14 May 15, 2005 Twenty years an over 3000 jumps........ And not a broken bone in sight, Bodily bruises from knowing when to take a downwinder. Lost both front teeth from not moving my head quick enough Cuts an bruises from various misshaps Got hurt a lot more from my days in Motorcross an water skiing Follow the rules, listen to your peers, And remember slow is fast. This sport can build your confidence, an give you years of fun On the down side it can empty your wallet quicker than any casino. Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hookitt 0 #15 May 15, 2005 QuoteNot a single injury here. I attribute it to a low testosterone. I don't knOOow ... I've seen you land. My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don.Key 0 #16 May 15, 2005 Thanks everyone! This gives me some confidence, My main problem here is not even my own worries but those of my family, everyone is completely against me taking this course. You see, in the past I managed to land in hospital after some sports no one would ever consider "dangerous" (I have dozen screws in my arm from arm wrestling for example). So for some years everyone is trying to limit my activities to swimming and alike. I am not afraid of dying, but I have fear of my wife! For now I think I managed to convince them that this is a very, very safe sport. I guess AFF training itself is much safer then later jumps on your own, so I will do it and maybe the attitude of my family will change after that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tink1717 2 #17 May 15, 2005 The fatality rate for jumping (based on 2000 numbers) is 1 in 225,000. The fatality rate for treadmills (yep treadmills)(ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 6th edition) is 1 in 10,000. You are much safer skydiving.Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off. -The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!) AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,625 #18 May 15, 2005 Safer than driving a car how far? The risk of death on one skydive is about the same as the risk of death in driving 1000 miles on US roads. You will reduce your life expectancy by around 2 years if you make 100 jumps a year from age 20 on. You will reduce your life expectancy by 6 years if you smoke a pack a day from age 20 on. No injuries here.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdog 0 #19 May 15, 2005 QuoteMy main problem here is not even my own worries but those of my family, everyone is completely against me taking this course. The unjustified fear goes away with education. The justified fear comes with education. Perhaps your family should come to the DZ with you to see what this is all about... I know that the more I educated my family, the more they calmed down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yarpos 4 #20 May 15, 2005 nothing more than scrapes and bruises so far.... I take a conservative approach under canopy, but thats no gaurantee of course, sometimes there can be variables that you dont control. so far so goodregards, Steve the older I get...the better I was Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamsr 0 #21 May 15, 2005 Quote My main problem here is not even my own worries but those of my family I get this as well, my sister is always saying 'haven't you done enough jumps now' and saying i should give up. Everyone outside the sport seems to think it's really dangerous and you're more likely to die than live on a jump. But it's only when you get into the sport that you realise how safe it is. All i can say is i have 220 jumps without a scratch (and hopefully many more!!) but 30 seconds ice skating and i end up with my ankle broken in 3 places, and a metal plate with 8 screws bolting it all back together. think i'll just stick to skydiving from now on Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EvilLurker 2 #22 May 15, 2005 I take it we're not counting brain injuries here, right? Most people consider us all insane, retarded, or both. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meux 0 #23 May 16, 2005 Don, I've sprained my ankle severely twice playing softball. To date the worst thing that has happened to me jumping from airplanes is that I broke a finger nail. I got over it pretty quickly when I realized how long they were. Go Jump. Prepare yourself for the addiction that follows. Be careful in the shower, you might slip and break your neck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marks 0 #24 May 16, 2005 close to 2500 jumps and no injuries... hopefully i never have any.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #25 May 16, 2005 No injuries hereYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
