Any adrenaline junkie will tell you that there aren’t many things similar to the feeling of bungee jumping. That free-falling feeling is a rush that is unmatched anywhere else. Nothing is better than that sigh of relief as you get pulled back from the ground at what seems like the very last second.
Of course, there are necessary safety precautions to consider before attempting a jump. Making sure the equipment you are using is secured, tested by professionals, and you are properly informed about how to attempt a safe jump are the key steps needed to ensure your safety. We have outlined in detail about how to prevent injuries when bungee jumping.
Company Safety
The best way to solidify your safety when going bungee jumping is to make sure you are doing it with professionals. It’s an extremely dangerous sport and the risks are no joke. Jumping with a reputable company is the first step in ensuring safety. The company should be sufficiently prepared, with proper sports league insurance and all risks covered.
Read the reviews on the company before meeting with them. Try to find their accident history if they have any. If you know someone who used the company in the past, check with them for references. You are risking serious injuries or even your life when bungee jumping, so you should take no shortcuts when reviewing the history of the people who you are entrusting.
Equipment Safety
Naturally, a reputable company should have reliable equipment. After all, if there is going to be any injury when attempting a jump, it’s most likely going to occur from equipment failure. This could range from a ton of different things.
The most common equipment failures are when the harness is put on the person improperly, or the length of the rope is wrong. If a harness is too loose, or something on it wasn’t attached properly, you could slip out of it when being pulled back up.
The length of the rope is arguably the most important thing. If it’s too long then you could slam onto the ground at near free-fall speeds, which would cause instant death.
In order to prevent this from happening, you need to double check everything that the company does. After they put your harness on, ask them to go over one more time to make sure it’s on correctly. Before you jump, ask them again if they tested the rope or if they know how close to the ground you will get. Making them go over the steps one more time before you jump could possibly save your life.
Preparation
There are many ways to prepare for a jump. Wearing the proper clothing, researching proper jumping techniques, even taking classes on attaching the harness properly are all very helpful tactics.
Wearing clothing that is loose is not a good idea while bungee jumping. It could get caught in the rope or somewhere in the harness and may lead to injuries or equipment malfunctions. Jewelry and other accessories should also be removed for the same reasons. There is also a chance they could fall off, and nobody wants to lose their personal items.
Taking a course, or doing research on the equipment, is a big step in safety preparation. There are hundreds of videos online about how to secure a harness properly, or how to tell if a rope is long enough. You could spot something wrong on your harness, or see something wrong with the rope that you learned from your research. There are even videos about what to wear and what not to wear for a jump.
Educating yourself is key. Even if it’s a bare minimum amount of knowledge you gain from these videos, it’s still better than nothing and could still save your life.
Personal Health
As a jumper, you want to make sure that your body is prepared for the jump. If you are someone with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, circulatory issues, or suffered a recent head or neck injury, you might want to sit this one out.
Bungee jumping causes a huge strain on your body, even for the few seconds you are on the rope. The force that is generated when you get pulled back can cause serious damage if your body isn’t prepared for it. People can lose consciousness, become concussed, strain or tear muscles, and many other possibilities.
If you decide you want to indulge yourself in this extreme sport, make sure you go see a doctor before you jump just to make sure your body will be able to handle the rigors of it.
Know the Risks
Bungee jumping is a fun, but dangerous activity. While it may be unnerving to learn about the potential injuries beforehand, it’s better to go in with as much knowledge as possible. The most common bungee jumping injuries included eye injuries, head injuries, spine injuries, neck injuries, and death.
Eye injuries may occur due to the suddenly changing pressure as you plunge through the air. When the cord jerks you back up, the sudden movement of fluid in your body may cause increased pressure behind your eyes, which may cause an infection, hemorrhage, or temporary impairment of your vision.
Head, spine, and neck injuries are also common due to the sudden jerk as the bungee cord pulls you upward. The extreme force can be jarring for your body. The head, neck, and spine are very important body parts, so be sure that you are in peak health and prepared so that these serious injuries do not occur.
Final Thoughts on Preventing Injuries when Bungee Jumping
For those people who love extreme sports and are adrenaline junkies, bungee jumping is the perfect activity for you! It’s over in just a few minutes, and the rush you get is unlike anything else. Like any extreme sport though, there are risks. Even the most adrenaline-addicted person needs to make sure that they are somewhat safe before trying a stunt.
By heeding these few tips, it could save yourself from injuries or even save your life. The steps are simple and don’t take much time. Try to follow as many as possible in order to enhance your own safety.
