Is Skydiving Safe?

So, after talking with your friends about their recent jump, you can't help but wonder, "Is skydiving safe?" Well, that' s a tough, loaded question. To be honest, what makes skydiving safe isn't just one thing. There is a variety of laws, procedures, and protocols that goes into skydiving. If you'd like to learn more about skydiving and its safety, read our informative article below.

Skydiving accidents do happen. "How often do they happen?" you may ask. Contrary to popular belief, skydiving is relatively safe in comparison to many other sports. Every year 2 million (that's 2,000,000) people make skydiving jumps. Out of those people, only about 35 die annually. While accidents and fatalities do occur, they are quite rare.

Accidents are usually related to an error in judgement. Also contrary to what most people think about the sport, parachute malfunctions aren't all that common. In fact, most skydiving accidents occur when jumpers make mistakes that violate procedure and protocol.

Parachuters (or "divers") must sign an agreement. As one would expect, skydivers are exposed to risks. Thus, skydiving companies will make all customers sign a waiver of risks-acknowledgement. That being said, these agreements do not forfeit the right to sue if their equipment malfunctions (which it rarely, if ever, will).

USPA-certified sites are good for skydivers. The United States Parachuting Association certifies facilities tested and deemed safe for the public. These companies that work with the USPA are highly accredited and trusted by the most professional of divers.

Skydiving isn't risky in comparison. When compared to the extremely high rate of injury and death associated with driving a car, skydiving seems like a near harmless pastime. The truth is, safety is number one when skydiving, and thus the statistics show it.

There is common sense when it comes to what makes skydiving safe. The sport emphasizes fun, teamwork, and pure ecstasy. That being said, what makes skydiving safe is that it abides by extreme safety regulations, which are all embedded within its culture. So enjoy, and listen to your instructor on that first jump, novice diver!