The epidemiology of skydiving injuries: World freefall convention, 2000–2001

• Published in: The Journal of emergency medicine Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 63 - 68
• Main Authors: Barrows, Thomas H., Mills, Trevor J., Kassing, Scott D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2005
• Subjects: Accidents - mortality; Adult; Athletic Injuries - classification; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Athletic Injuries - mortality; Aviation - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; injury epidemiology; Male; mass gathering; Middle Aged; Prevalence; skydiving; sports injuries; skydiving; mass gathering; injury epidemiology; sports injuries
• ISSN: 0736-4679; 2352-5029
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2004.07.008

The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence and types of injuries incurred by civilian skydivers using contemporary equipment under conventional conditions. Injury data were collected at the World Freefall skydiving convention (WFFC), during two consecutive periods of operation, August 4–13, 2000 and August 3–12, 2001. During the study periods, 8976 skydivers made 117,000 skydives. The First Aid Station at the WFFC treated 204 patients for injuries related to skydiving, at a rate of 17.4/10,000 (injuries/skydives). Most injuries were minor (66%) and required only simple first aid. Significant injuries, defined as those requiring treatment in the emergency department, occurred at a rate of 6.0/10,000 (injuries/skydives). The rate of hospitalization was 1.8/10,000 skydives. There was one fatality during this study. We believe these results provide a current update regarding the risk and types of injury related to recreational skydiving.