An early Safety Day story by Kate Cooper-Jensen

Image by George Katsoulis
“A few weeks ago I received a message via FB in my “other” folder…
The message simply read: “15ish years ago you caught my chest strap undone on the way up. Thx.”
Why am I posting this?
Because over the years I have caught dozens of mis-routed chest straps, 3-ring set-ups, RSLs and a few opened (or partially opened) main and reserve containers.. Usually (not always!) the person was thankful and the situation was quickly remedied.

One of the scariest jumps of my life
On one terrifying skydive a team-mate exited the plane with a mis-routed chest strap which was one of the scariest jumps of my life – watching while they threaded their chest strap in freefall before an uneventful deployment. This story was written up in Parachutist and I had many jumpers, some VERY experienced, tell me after reading the story that they had seen the same or had it happen to themselves.
I’m not a better gear inspector than you. Obviously I’ve missed gear problems I should have caught. But I’ve caught some, and that’s what counts.

Image from Power Play 2019 by Terry Weatherford
ALWAYS look out
You can do this as well. ALWAYS look out for others, and more importantly – look out for YOURSELF! Each of these many instances could have been self-caught by gear checks before putting on gear, before getting on the airplane, and before exiting.
Be YOUR keeper and keep an eye out for your sisters and brothers and let’s keep skydiving SAFELY!
- The Chest Strap - 14th March 2023
- Big-way Bites 8 – How to STAY ON a BIG-WAY - 20th April 2020
- Big-way Bites 7 – How to GET ON a BIG-WAY - 10th April 2020
- Big-way Bites 5 – TRACKING - 26th March 2020
- Big-way Bites 6 – MENTAL ASPECTS - 20th March 2020
- Eagle EYES Save LIVES - 10th March 2020
- Big-way Bites 4 – RED ZONE and DOCKING - 5th March 2020
- Big-way Bites 3 – FALL RATE - 27th February 2020
- The Chest Strap - 14th March 2023
- Big-way Bites 8 – How to STAY ON a BIG-WAY - 20th April 2020
- Big-way Bites 7 – How to GET ON a BIG-WAY - 10th April 2020
- Big-way Bites 5 – TRACKING - 26th March 2020
- Big-way Bites 6 – MENTAL ASPECTS - 20th March 2020
- Eagle EYES Save LIVES - 10th March 2020
- Big-way Bites 4 – RED ZONE and DOCKING - 5th March 2020
- Big-way Bites 3 – FALL RATE - 27th February 2020