{"id":18148,"date":"2018-10-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-31T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=18148"},"modified":"2022-04-12T15:47:34","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T15:47:34","slug":"2018-10-31-skydiving-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/2018-10-31-skydiving-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"SKYDIVING SAFETY TIPS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dan BC reminds us of the basics to stay alive…<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Skydiving is not a safe sport. It is a dangerous sport we can do safely”<\/p>Dan BC<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I find myself wanting to remind my skydiving family of a few safety tips. I don\u2019t think there is anything new here, but ideas I strongly suggest you consider…<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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1. Do a good gear check<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Do a real thorough gear check, right before putting your rig on your back. I\u2019ve recently known about two pilot chutes in tow which wouldn\u2019t have happened if the jumpers had done good gear checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Understand your handles move<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Understand that when under canopy, especially a malfunctioning canopy, your cutaway and reserve handles won\u2019t be in the same place on your chest they are when standing on the ground with your rig on. You\u2019ll usually need to see them to find them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. LOOK FIRST!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first step of all malfunction procedures is to \u201clook\u201d and locate your cutaway handle. I have people show me their EPs and frequently they reach before looking. When they reach but don\u2019t immediately locate their handles their arms\/hands often block the view of their handles making it harder to find them when they do look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at your handles!<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Cutaway first<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I recommend locating and pulling your cutaway handle first, not locating and getting a hand on both your cutaway and reserve handles. It can be hard to locate one handle and get a hand on it when having a malfunction. It\u2019s twice as hard and takes twice as long to locate two handles. I put all my attention on getting the first job done, cutting away. Once I cut away and go back into freefall my reserve handle is exactly where I expect it to be and easy to find. And since I jump with a Skyhook I\u2019ve usually not even had time to pull my reserve handle before the reserve is open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you jump with a Skyhook or even RSL your reserve will probably be open before you pull the handle
Photo shows Skyhook deployment by Nik Daniel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Consider loop handles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people have had trouble peeling and pulling the \u201cpillow\u201d handles that are commonly used. If you think you might have any difficulties with these another option is a \u201cloop\u201d type handle. The advantage of a loop is you can get your thumb behind it giving you a more solid grip. The downside of the loop is the concern that it could get caught on something and pulled by accident but I haven\u2019t seen this happen. More often I\u2019ve seen the pillows get knocked out of the pockets and be floating around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Practice your Emergency Procedures<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. PRACTICE YOUR EMERGENCY PROCEDURES!!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t just \u201cknow\u201d them, be great at them so you can calmly, confidently and immediately \u201cLook, reach, peel, pull\u201d without any error or hesitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Don’t hesitate<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make the decision now that if after opening you look up at your canopy, see an issue with it, and aren\u2019t 100% certain you can clear it that you are going to CUT IT AWAY RIGHT NOW! Don\u2019t try to fix that crap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CUT IT AWAY RIGHT NOW! <\/p>

Don\u2019t try to fix that crap”<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

8. Don\u2019t be complacent<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to popular belief, skydiving is not a safe sport. It is a dangerous sport we can do safely. If we have our shit together. And have it together all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.danbrodsky-chenfeld.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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