{"id":23476,"date":"2020-03-10T14:05:05","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T14:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=23476"},"modified":"2024-04-04T09:46:02","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T09:46:02","slug":"eagle-eyes-save-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/eagle-eyes-save-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagle EYES Save LIVES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An early Safety Day story by Kate Cooper-Jensen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Author Kate Cooper-Jensen and her eagle eyes at Power Play, Skydive Perris
Image by George Katsoulis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“I received a message via Facebook in my “other” folder…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The message simply read: “15-ish years ago you caught my chest strap undone on the way up. Thx.”<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Why am I posting this? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trying to do up a chest strap in free fall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the scariest jumps of my life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Look at everyone’s gear on the ride to altitude, you could save a life
Image from Power Play by Terry Weatherford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ALWAYS look out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can do this as well. ALWAYS look out for others, and more importantly \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be YOUR keeper and keep an eye out for your sisters and brothers and let’s keep skydiving SAFELY!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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