Are Hook Turns a Major Obstacle to Safe Skydiving? A Study of Skydiving Fatalities in the United States from 1992 to 2005

Vidovic, Martina; Rugai, Nick

doi:10.2466/pms.105.3.795-802

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The increased and more major injuries of experienced jumpers may be explained by their use of aggressive and high-speed landing techniques, which became popular in the early 2000s. An increase in incidents for this reason has been observed previously [ 27 , 28 ]. As discussed previously in the rise in incidences section, we believe lack of currency is an important contributor to errors of judgment during high speed landings.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

The ground is the limit: epidemiology of skydiving accidents over 25 years and in 2.1 million jumps in the Netherlands with sub-analysis of injuries reported by medical professionals in the past five years

Damhuis,

van der Wal,

Frielink

et al. 2024

World J Emerg Surg

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Background Skydiving is the fastest nonmotorized sport; and consequently is not without risk. In the last decades, skydiving has become considerably safer but injuries and fatalities still occur. Incidents are reported to and administered by the Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association (KNVvL). From 1995 to 2020, 2715 incidents were reported; of which 1503 resulted in injury and 26 in fatality. There is a need for more information available on the particular type, severity, and factors which contribute to skydiving-related injuries worldwide. This study aims to investigate patterns in occurrence rates, examine demographic and skydiving-related factors linked to injuries, and analyze the types and severity of injuries relating to these contributing factors. Methods The Dutch KNVvL database – covering more than 25 years of data – was examined for contributing factors. An analysis of the severity and types of injury resulting from incidents over the last five years were matched with a search of hospital databases. Results The rate of injuries pattern increases starting from 2016, with novice jumpers having the highest risk of injury. Most injuries occur during the landing phase. The lower extremities and the spine are most affected, with fractures being the most prevalent type of injury. More than half of the patients were admitted to hospital, with 10% requiring surgery, resulting in months of rehabilitation. Conclusion This study is the first in the Netherlands, and only the second worldwide to analyze technical incident databases in combination with data from medical information systems. Skydiving accidents of experienced jumpers should be considered as ‘high-energy trauma,’ therefore treatment should follow standard trauma guidelines. In less experienced skydivers, it is critical to conduct a secondary survey to assess the extremities adequately. Clinicians should also pay attention to friction burns that can arise due to friction between the skin and skydive equipment, a phenomenom that is already known in road traffic accidents.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

The ground is the limit: epidemiology of skydiving accidents over 25 years and in 2.1 million jumps in the Netherlands with sub-analysis of injuries reported by medical professionals in the past five years

Damhuis,

van der Wal,

Frielink

et al. 2024

World J Emerg Surg

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“…Whether one participates in parachuting for a thrill, competition, or military training, it is a relatively safe activity provided one utilizes a certified facility (2). Because these deaths are so rare, and few nonmilitary offices have experienced parachutists on staff, it is important to have a comprehensive investigation utilizing the expertise of parachute experts (1,(4)(5)(6). All of the deaths in this study were investigated with the cooperation of experts from either the skydiving facility or the military.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parachute Deaths in Southern Arizona

Cronin

Winston

2017

Academic Forensic Pathology

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Introduction Parachuting is said to be a relatively safe activity. We sought to undertake a study to assess parachute-related deaths in our jurisdiction. Methods A retrospective study of parachute-related deaths in Southern Arizona was conducted by searching the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner database between 2001 and 2016. This search revealed 24 deaths. Results The decedents ranged from 19 to 61 years of age, with a median age of 36 years. Twenty-two of the decedents were male. The racial breakdown was 22 white, one Asian, and one not recorded. The manner of death in all cases was classified as an accident. All deaths were due to multiple blunt force injuries and only one case was found to have no injuries to the head or neck. The most common circumstances were failure of chute deployment (seven), mid-air collisions (three), and becoming entangled with other parachutists (three). Six deaths occurred during military training. Four of the nonmilitary decedents were described as “experienced” parachutists and one case involved a tandem jump team with a survivor. Natural disease was found in four cases with three having moderate coronary artery atherosclerosis. Toxicology was performed in 21 of the deaths with three positive for cannabinoids, one positive for 7-aminoclonazepam, and one positive for 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Discussion Parachuting is a relatively safe activity, with very few deaths. Investigation of these deaths should include a complete autopsy with toxicology as well as a thorough scene investigation and evaluation of the jumper's equipment.

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“…Landing errors due to poorly executed high speed landings have, worldwide, become an important cause of skydiving-related injuries and deaths [ 1 , 21 ]. Parachute associations and parachute manufacturers' recommend that only highly skilled skydivers perform these maneuvers, but only a limited number of countries or drop zones use regulations to prevent inexperienced skydivers from performing high speed landings [ 10 , 22 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of Injuries and Injury Reporting among Swedish Skydivers

Jong

Westman

Saveman

2014

Journal of Sports Medicine

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The objective was to illuminate the experience of injuries and the process of injury reporting within the Swedish skydiving culture. Data contained narrative interviews that were subsequently analyzed with content analysis. Seventeen respondents (22–44 years) were recruited at three skydiving drop zones in Sweden. In the results injury events related to the full phase of a skydive were described. Risk of injury is individually viewed as an integrated element of the recreational activity counterbalanced by its recreational value. The human factor of inadequate judgment such as miscalculation and distraction dominates the descriptions as causes of injuries. Organization and leadership act as facilitators or constrainers for reporting incidents and injuries. On the basis of this study it is interpreted that safety work and incident reporting in Swedish skydiving may be influenced more by local drop zone culture than the national association regulations. Formal and informal hierarchical structures among skydivers seem to decide how skydiving is practiced, rules are enforced, and injuries are reported. We suggest that initial training and continuing education need to be changed from the current top-down to a bottom-up perspective, where the individual skydiver learns to see the positive implications of safety work and injury reporting.

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Are Hook Turns a Major Obstacle to Safe Skydiving? A Study of Skydiving Fatalities in the United States from 1992 to 2005

Cited by 9 publications

References 12 publications

The ground is the limit: epidemiology of skydiving accidents over 25 years and in 2.1 million jumps in the Netherlands with sub-analysis of injuries reported by medical professionals in the past five years

The ground is the limit: epidemiology of skydiving accidents over 25 years and in 2.1 million jumps in the Netherlands with sub-analysis of injuries reported by medical professionals in the past five years

Parachute Deaths in Southern Arizona

Experiences of Injuries and Injury Reporting among Swedish Skydivers

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