Know the Risks and Procedures Before Skydiving
Skydiving is probably one of the most common tasks on any bucket list. People are willing to travel all over the world to sky dive in their dream location. The sport defies every notion that human beings have ever had of playing it safe. Of course, skydiving is safe, but with any sport that requires you to jump from high places, there is risk involved. Most people who choose to skydive are college students whose ages range from 18 to 29. However, contrary to popular belief, skydiving is not defined to a certain age group. Many older adults are also having a great time jumping.
Requirements
In order to skydive, there are certain requirements that have to be met. Commonly those with heart complications and serious health issues are deterred from taking part in this intense sport. In many countries, people have to sign-off that they are physically fit and in relatively good health before the company will even consider letting them jump. Another requirement of skydiving is quite odd: If the person has been scuba diving lately, they have to wait a few days before they are eligible for the jump.
Age is another requirement; jumpers have to be at least 16 years of age and have a guardian or parent’s consent in order to jump. The consenting parents have to observe all pre-jump instructions with the minor. Schools that provide jump instruction in most cases require students to be at least 18 years of age. These requirements ensure that a safe jump is performed. Avoiding an accident is the No. 1 goal of any jump school, but if something were to happen, personal injury law firms, such as Robb Robb and many others, have your best interest in mind. So don’t hesitate to fight back if you feel wronged.
Almost Time to Dive!
Once these basic requirements are met, the testing round begins. In these cases, the ground training has already been completed and students are required to pass a written and oral exam before jumping. The tests are just a way to make sure that the jumper has retained the knowledge they need for a safe jump. Skydiving accident data shows that most mistakes stem from failure to follow procedure or poor judgement, which should be avoidable after competent training.
Contrary to popular belief, skydiving is one of the most thoroughly trained adventure sports available. There are about 400 skydiving centers scattered across the U.S., according to Skydiving Magazine. Most of these centers are large and have strict guidelines. In the northern U.S. areas, these centers are generally closed in the winter months. When looking for a skydiving business, search online and in the yellow pages under “parachuting.”
Might As Well Jump!
Tandem training allows first time jumpers to experience the thrill and excitement of the sport without having a solo jump. The student wears a harness that is attached to the instructor’s parachute system. They deploy the parachute appreciably 4,000 feet above the ground. Another teaching technique for students to practice is static-line training. This method is often used by the military.
Skydiving costs vary: According to Skydive.com, the prices range from $85 to $200 dollars a jump. The costs vary according to the type of jump. The tandem jump is actually more expensive because the jumper is paying to have the experience of the instructor with them.
Author: David Garcia David is a stay-at-home father of three who fronts a local band and teaches guitar on the side. Although his days are full of mostly Rated-G films, he’s also a big fan of independent films.
