DexterBase

No, actually I'm referring to an incident in France. The jumper exited from a 1100' cliff and pulled extremely low. He impacted at linestretch so there was some deceleration, but not much, as the slider was still stowed in the canopy. I understand he was injured badly and required spine surgery. I know it doesn't fit the typical definition of, "landing", but it does show how close people are to being able to achieve this goal. Could you survive an impact at linestretch without a wingsuit...?

Actually, a wingsuit HAS been landed...

I think there are two separate issues in this thread. One is risks of solo jumping, and the other is first aid on jumps. Solo jumping is already being discussed in another thread, so I'll give my opinion on first aid. Here's a post I made on Blinc a while back that's related to your topic; Solid first aid skills are essential training for anyone who is serious about BASE. Every jumper needs to know how to control bleeding, splint fractures (including improvising traction splints), stabilize the cervical spine, and provide basic life support (CPR), etc... These skills are also good screening questions when talking to potential groundcrew. I would highly recommend taking an EMT-Basic course to everyone, BASE jumper or not. This will give you a good base (heh heh...) of anatomy and first aid knowledge and also enable you to rapidly assess a jumper after an accident to determine the proper course of action. I would also like to see jumpers carry a Kendrick Traction splint (small, collapsable, and will fit into a fanny pack) which can go a LONG way to relieve pain and reduce the chance of damaging the femoral artery in a femur fracture situation. Personally, I'm an EMT-IV/Airway, Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support instructor, Advanced Cardiac Life Support provider, as well as trained in triage and combat medicine. Also, I think the painkillers are a bad idea, particularly if you're alone. If you have friends to help you get to help then it's a possible option, but if you're soloing you're going to need your wits about you. Also, if you're soloing you should be prepared for that eventuality. Hope this helps...

Well, my point was that 1" webbing is more than adequate. Not all 1" webbing are constructed the same, and most are rated at or near 4,000 pounds ar at least above 15kn. I was not referring to only tubular webbing as there are several types of flat 1" rated at 3,700 pounds or greater. If we're talking about a 2" flat webbing folded in half along it's long axis, now we're exceeding 6,000 pounds. Nylon is some tough stuff...

Actually, nylon is some amazing stuff. The amount of force your chest strap is subjected to is trivial when weighed against the tensile strength of 1" webbing. Most 1" webbing has a breaking strength over 4,000 pounds. I'm also a rock climber and I've taken huge whippers on 19mm nylon quickdraws (spectra is better). Those seemed to hold up just fine. I've also set up some 300' plus rope jumps and used a single 1" nylon sling as the primary anchor (backed up to a totally bombproof anchor of course) I did this to show a buddy of mine how much we were actually OVERbuilding our anchor systems. Nylon rocks!

Heh heh... Wait until you're at the exit point and you feel like puking and your knees are wobbling... it's ALL good!

It's really ironic how a sport that forges lifelong friendships and memories, can also be the source of life's most bitter pain. When the dust settles, all we're left with is the smiles they gave us, the times we shared, and beers to their memories. I've lost three friends and I'll continue to jump, because I know they'd press on without me and keep the torch burning. If I need to feel close to them again, I just need to open the door and get out. We keep the dream alive...

Think about what you're doing. You are paying to ride an airplane to 14,000 feet, open the door, and Jump out (deliberately remember) and then you will accelerate to a speed in excess of 100 miles per hour, and the only thing stopping you from hitting the ground is a nylon parachute connected to a bunch of thin lines. Of course there's risk involved. Of course people get hurt and die. There's definitely a chance that something might happen to you. I tell them that the risks are manageable through proper planning, training, and preparation. For me, the risks are greatly outweighed by the friends I make and the experiences I share with them. Risk is a personal matter everyone needs to justify on their own. Do I think I'm going to die skydiving? No Way. BASE jumping maybe, but the rewards I get from that exceed even skydiving... It's all personal...

This was kinda funny... ...actually, the site named someone who might be a real jumper so I deleted the url. Sorry... If you want the url, PM me.

There are many jumps where ground crew are needed. Some jumps simply cannot be done without GC and there are also some where you wouldn't want crew. Ground crew can act as drivers, lookouts, mark landing areas, survey current conditions in the landing area, provide immediate aid to the first jumpers on the load in the event of an injury... Ground crew's main purpose is to logistically support the jump. Basically, a gang of tasks. Any non-jumping role on a load is referred to as ground crew. Sometimes the need for ground crew is so vital that jumpers will have to fill the slots if no GC is available. There are several more responsibilities of ground crew that I think would be left off this forum (PM me for more detailed information) but I think you get the idea. Ground crew can actually be a very important aspect of jump planning. Solid ground crew is hard to come by. There are several qualities you will want to look for when sizing up potential GC. *Rock solid dependability. If they say they're gonna do something, they come through. *Non-whuffo attitude. *Ability to keep their mouths shut and not spray facts to others. (Skydivers included.) *Make sure they're not there to just get video, you'll want them focused on their assigned tasks. Sometimes the crew will be in a place where they can't even see the jump. *Basic first aid skills, I recommend an EMT basic course which can be taken at most junior colleges. Or if you live local to me (Seattle when I return from overseas) I will take a day to show you basic first aid, patient assessment, and CPR skills. *Genuine interest in the sport goes a long way There are other qualities but these are a good start.

Hehehe ...

Not really, we just don't like broken bones much...

If you never read anything about wingloading in BASE forums, then I wonder how much time you actually spend in them. (My search for wingloading in the BASE zone alone yielded 28 results) Wingloading is extremely important in BASE. In my opinion it's more critical if anything since you don't have a huge open area to land in, or thousands of feet to set up for landing. Sometimes you're gonna have to set it down where you don't want to, and every square foot of canopy over you is going to make it hurt less. Typically in BASE you want a wingloading around .7 but since there are many exits at high altitude this number can vary depending on your typical opening altitude (Above sea level.) There are also other factors. Generally, you want a big canopy overhead for the questionable landing areas you'll find in BASE. Big, slow, and stable is the way to go here. If you do a search here or on Blinc, you'll find countless threads pertaining to proper BASE wingloading. Or go here wingloading Hope this helps. edited to fix typos and to add url...

You can join the USPA for $51. When you start jumping, you'll recieve a temporary membership good for 45 days (I believe it's still 45 days anyway.) After this expires, you can renew for $49 annually. This fee also gets you a subscription to Parachutist magazine. Money well spent as far as I'm concerned. Check out www.uspa.org edited to add url.

Hope I didn't come off as confrontational. Bickering is a massive waste of time.

Hey this is kind of amusing actually. Do you really think they would put you into freefall if you're not able to exit stable and pull your own ripcord? You're not cleared for freefall until you've demonstrated your consistant ability to exit stable and pull. Anyway, after your initial short delays, you practice different exits and regaining stability. After this, you will always be exiting with your coach/jumpmaster and you learn all the aspects of freefall manouvers you would learn in an AFF jump. I have experienced both programs and I prefer the static line method. I don't think because you're an AFF instructor that you should try to discredit the other teaching methods. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. I was giving my advice, and she can either take it or leave it. I've talked to her privately and she's going to be a skydiver regardless of which program she chooses.

I would agree with Tom here, having done a couple AFF jumps in Lodi. However, I would go on to recommend that you do the static line program instead of AFF wherever you choose to learn at. AFF may be a great program for those who learn very quickly and have spent time learning as much as possible about skydiving before their first class. For your average new student, the rapid pace of the AFF program can be a bit overwhelming. Personally, I think the static line program gives you more time to absorb the information, and a better chance of retaining that information. My older brother is looking into starting a student program and I feel strongly enough about this to recommend static line to him as well. In the end, you're going to walk away with the same skill set, the same license, and a little extra cash to pay for jump tickets.

If the multi is not hooked up, the additional reinforcement points don't affect anything. Just pretend they're not there. I may be wrong, as I do not jump a multi equipped Fox. The two Foxes I owned were single bridle attachment (per the advice of more experienced jumpers I talked to when I was looking for my first BASE rigs.)

As long as you don't bail on landing, the leg pocket should be fine.

Damn dude... not even my BASE canopies get treated like that! My skydiving mains get babied. If you take care of your gear it will take care of you. If you abuse your equipment, don't have your feelings hurt if it doesn't perform as desired.

Hey this is a timely thread, I too got a tattoo today... interesting.

Okay... You got me on that one.

As far as I know, the military has not looked into the employment of "Low altitude vertical delivery specialists" yet. I can't imagine a scenario where a BASE jumper skill set would be required. The military uses rappelling techniques that cover this area. When it's needed to insert personnel, fast roping remains the fastest method to put troops on the ground without the site analysis that goes into a BASE jump. Besides, can you imagine jumping a cliff with a combat load? Basically it's just not practical. What if there was a situation where the "low altitude expert" was needed to jump from a cliff where the conditions were severe? In the BASE environment you would leave and jump another day. In the military (combat particularly) environment the mission comes first personal safety second, the minute bullets start flying. It's a fun idea to kick around though... let me know if you learn different.

I got certified through Advanced open water then Medic first aid. I actually started Rescue diver training but didn't finish. (long story).

The moonlight illuminated the canyon and backlit the bridge as the car moved down the winding road. A glance over confirmed we were nearing the spot. The sounds of Tool came from the speakers; I could hear it but wasn’t really listening. Rob drove on but neither of us spoke a word. Concentrating on one deep breath after another. Lots of thoughts ran through my head ranging from the simple, “Should have got gas before we came” and, “got a 42 on there and I’m gonna take three seconds…” to the morbid, “damn, hope I don’t fuck this one up.” I drummed my fingers on my knee and tapped a foot on the floorboard. My efforts to look calm were betrayed by my shaking hand resting on the bag in my lap. My tools were inside, the gear that my life would depend on very soon. “Okay dude, one more time.” He said to me, referring to our plan for the jump. He wasn’t going to jump with me, just support my efforts from the ground. I ran him through the sequence of events that would take up the next half hour. I covered what actions to take if we were spotted or the jump was somehow compromised. He nodded his head in understanding. Five minutes later I was standing on a catwalk in the dark and the sounds of the river drifted up from below. Pulling an elbow pad into place, I concentrated on my breathing once again. A shiver ran through me. Not the shiver of cold, although it was a chilly night, but the unmistakable shiver of fear. A dark form moved up the trail below and grew closer. Two flashes of the red light, barely visible if you weren’t looking for it. Rob’s in position, time to go… Oh man… The breeze coming down the canyon was moving very slowly, not enough to affect me. There was sufficient light to safely fly and land my canopy. Everything seemed good. So why was I so damn scared? “Okay lets do it.” I whispered to the air. I relaxed my grip on the ladder and took a step away from the vertical beam. My right hand tapped the fabric cap on my pilot chute, confirming its position. The moment of choice… am I gonna jump or not? Two more flashes from Rob’s light. I looked straight out to the line of cars winding down the opposite side of the canyon and felt my weight shift forward. My body was moving outward, away from the safety of the bridge. Chest pointed out, hips springing forward. Freedom! I felt my boots leave the steel and my ears were greeted with an un-natural silence… but not for long. “One” The sound of air passing by my ears intensified as my body picked up speed through the abyss. Every second brought me closer to the cold river. Right hand reached back and found the end of my Pilot chute. Fingers took a firm grip, “make sure you really have a hold of it!” “Two!” The muscles in my right shoulder tightened as I threw the folded fabric into the air. Hands moved towards my shoulders in anticipation. Waiting… WHAM! The opening canopy sent a “BANG” down the canyon. “Three” and I reached up and took the toggles in my fingers. I smiled to see a perfectly deployed parachute over my head and laughed that I pussed out of that third second. I slowly turned the canopy around and crossed the canyon, flying away from the huge pillars. More flashes from the red light as I turned upwind toward the landing area. I lined the black canopy up with the road and slowly pulled down on the toggles slowing my speed. I flared a little bit low and rolled a few feet down the dusty trail. Not the most graceful of landings but nothing was injured. I gathered my canopy up and stowed everything in the nylon stash bag as Rob walked over to me. “Nice one dude.” I shook my head and as we turned to walk to the car, I looked over my shoulder at the most awesome structure I’ve ever laid eyes on. Beautiful in the moonlight.