nightmare deaths

[riptides]

Good points, with tractors it is more work oriented than pleasure. Some would beg to differ.

Jumping out of an airplane, is pleasure. Again, some would beg to differ.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I saw a helmet cam of a guy jumping out of a plane and his chute didnt open He screamed a bit then when the ground got close he went sssshhhhhiiiiiiiii boom. He survived, I have a freind that jumped and his chute ripped when it deployed. He got in a panic and lost it. He still had most of the chute and hit pretty hard and broke his knee and femur.

 

[Mace Canute]

Your quote reminded me of their quote:

"If riding in an airplane is flying, then riding in a boat is swimming. If you want to experience the element, then get out of the vehicle."
-Unknown

The thing is, if you are in the water, flapping your arms and kicking legs as hard as you can usually keeps you afloat. The same can't be said for when you are falling through the air...

 

[Reg]

The thing is, if you are in the water, flapping your arms and kicking legs as hard as you can usually keeps you afloat. The same can't be said for when you are falling through the air...

One thing that CAN be said about both falling though air and struggling in water is that if you do flap your arms and legs around you will almost certainly make things worse, probably MUCH worse.

In the case of falling through air you will be MUCH better off to "arch" (verb) making yourself kinda/sorta flat which will keep you speed down as well as keeping your back up.
So that if/when the automatic reserve deploys you are in the best position for it.
Don't "go fetal" that will roll you onto your back and could result is some serious opening shock, bad position and higher speed.

Calm, Ya gotta stay CALM.
Most difficult situations that develop into disasters do so because people (temporarily) forget their emergency training, most important of which is "Don't panic" (yet) (-:

This is opinion - but I don't believe emergency drills are practiced enough in most scuba diving - classes or recreational dives. The culture seems to be you need a dive buddy and if you have one you're covered.
Well, only if your buddy is within ONE breath's reach )-;

Oh Yeah, I believe in helmet wearing for sky diving.

=========================================

I think the "work" focus of operating tractors and implements (mentally) masks the risks, whereas in "adrenalin rush sports" we are very much aware of our exposure and (hopefully) are consciously preparing ourselves for the things that could go wrong.
Risk management 101 ? Yeah, probably.

 

[Mace Canute]

You don't get a joke, eh Reg.

 

[txdon]

There was another sky diving death this spring before this one. It was in San Marcus Texas, about 100 miles away. Both victims male - and 61 years old.

If your 61 years old in Texas you might want to stay inside the plane. Things come in threes.

 

[Reg]

You don't get a joke, eh Reg.

Fair comment.

I don't "get", as in I don't accept, jokes about emergency procedures.
There are few things I take more seriously.

I am not current on the stats, but at one time there was an incredible number of (water) dive neophytes who drowned at or very close to the surface. They can't tell us why, but we do know that most of them died with their weight belts ON - mayhap they just flapped their arms around and hoped for help that never came ?

I don't "get" old men rolling their eyes at me either (-:
{Maybe you "got" that ? }

=========================================
As far as being over 61 making one more liable to sky diving death - I doubt it.
With age our reflexes slow, but with experience our reactions are also a bit more "damped" - i.e. we are less likely to show the knee jerk reaction that can be exactly the wrong thing.

Yes, some octogenarians DO take their first (tandem) sky dive ON their 80th birthday and some go on to qualify for solo.
If you remain alert and reasonably fit this is something you can do well into your late years.

 

[Mace Canute]

Whatever...