Basejumper.com - archive

General BASE

wwarped
Shortcut
28 Feb 2009 - a very sad day
well, I thought I should start a new thread because it looks like we lost 3 fellow jumpers yesterday. it really sucks.

for additional information, there are 3 separate threads in "Incidents." all happened in Europe with the preliminary reports coming out in a language other than English. thus the stories might appear in more detail elsewhere first.

it really is hard to know what to say. I just figured a separate thread might be useful for speculation on common causes, ways to prevent more, etc. let the other threads be for the details of each tragedy.

has there ever been 3 deaths in the same day? yikes.

stay safe out there. please.
nicrussell
Shortcut
Re: [wwarped] 28 Feb 2009 - a very sad day
First off I woke to very sad news. I knew none of the passed jumpers. After reviewing the BFL I noticed that the most dangerous time period to make a BASE jump was the days just prior and following New Years. This of course is statistically and one event has zero connection with another. (there is actually one fatality where one jumper may have survived had he known the outcome of another jumper and not waved off the heli.) When jumping YOU are the pilot in command and the only one who is truely responsible for your own life. Don't fuck up. Things are not cosmically connected and an event hundreds if not thousands of miles away WILL NOT effect you except in your head. My condolences to the families and friends of our three lost.
leroydb
Shortcut
Re: [wwarped] 28 Feb 2009 - a very sad day
In some organizations they have something called a "saftey stand down"

In reply to:
Safety Stand-Down

The following safety indicators may provide a warning of potential future safety problems: Increasing numbers of identified hazards or deficiencies Increasing numbers of personnel injuries Severe mishaps or near mishaps A lack of or decreased training because of operations

Whenever a command needs to raise the level of awareness of personnel safety, it should initiate a safety stand-down. During a safety stand-down, which usually lasts 1 day, ship’s personnel stop all normal work (except for emergency corrective repairs). They then make a concerted effort to correct safety deficiencies and to provide safety training, particularly on the safety items pointed out in mishap and near-mishap investigations. Each command should consider conducting a safety stand-down following a safety evaluation. That is an ideal time to conduct safety training and to correct deficiencies identified during the evaluation. Commands should conduct at least one safety stand-down per year

Not sure it would be possible, as NICKDG said something to the effect of, its like trying to herd cats...

a quick search found this doccument http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/.../safetystanddown.doc