{"id":52484,"date":"2024-06-20T11:37:36","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T11:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=52484"},"modified":"2024-06-27T10:06:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T10:06:13","slug":"3-ways-to-be-safer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/3-ways-to-be-safer\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to Be Safer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Last week Jacob proposed two safety principles<\/a>, this time he presents three ways to become a safer skyd<\/strong>iver:<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Slow down<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Have checklists for every stage of jumping<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Educate yourself<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"
    Slow down in the plane, in the air and on the ground
    Photo from the Tsunami Skydivers Seychelles Boogie, by Tom Sanders<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    1. Slow down<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Skydiving is not a race. Skydiving is not about trying to do what other people are doing. Skydiving is about you. When you slow down, you can see the bigger picture. Should you \u2018send it\u2019 because you only live once, or should you slow down because you only die once?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are three areas to think about \u201cslowing down\u201d:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Slow down on progression<\/em><\/strong><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

    Too many people (especially beginners) are naively enthusiastic about trying new things in skydiving. Part of skydiving requires being brutally honest with yourself and your abilities. Just because someone meets the minimum requirements for wingsuiting, BASE jumping or cameraflying doesn\u2019t mean he or she is ready. Skydiving isn\u2019t about how many things you can do, how many likes you can get on Instagram, or what kind of canopy you jump. To succeed requires a baseline of skills that takes years of focus and discipline to build up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Take the time to pack properly
    Photo shows Cornelia Mihai, by Performance Designs<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Slow down on the ground<\/em><\/strong><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Do gear checks slowly. Take the time to examine every pin, flap, and ring. Your rig is your life-saving device. Is your life worth an extra two minutes for checking your gear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pack properly. It\u2019s easy to rush for the next load and forget to cock the pilot chute, quarter the slider, or misroute the bridle. Packing mistakes are very preventable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Concentrate during the dirt-dive and develop excellent visualization skills. This is your rehearsal for success. The better you prepare, the better your chances of a successful jump. This is the perfect time to consider every safety aspect of the skydive including climb-out, freefall, break-off, and under canopy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Visualize the canopy flight. Think about who might be in your airspace after deployment and what evasive actions you may need to take. This is also an opportunity to dirt-dive any canopy maneuvers you want to practice. Also study your holding area and landing pattern using the winds for the day, and ideally the aerial DZ photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Slow down in the air<\/em><\/strong><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Move around the plane slowly. Keep your pins and handles where they need to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Slow down in freefall. How you approach a formation is just as important as docking on it. Skydives don\u2019t always go to plan and that\u2019s okay. You always have an opportunity to try again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Slow down under canopy. Canopy flight is where most accidents happen. People tend to forget that skydives also include canopy rides. Fly defensively and stay alert – the skydive doesn\u2019t end until your feet touch the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Have a checklist for every stage of the jump, including spotting
    Photo shows Rich Grimm spotting over the Seychelles, by Tom Sanders<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    2. Have a checklist for each part of your skydive<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Every pilot has a pre-flight checklist before flying. For skydivers, a pre-jump checklist is very useful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some safety items to consider at each stage of the skydive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n