Do all types of parachuting carry the same risk?
No. There are now three ways to be introduced to parachuting. The risk profiles of these three methods vary considerably. The risks also vary depending on your gender, age, weight and fitness. For solo jumpers the injury rate for female novices is 2 – 2½ times that for male novices. This gender difference has yet to be explained satisfactorily. The injury rate rises with increasing age, increasing weight and decreasing physical fitness. Tandem jumps The novice is strapped to an experienced instructor. They share a modern, extra-large, ‘square’ parachute. After a freefall of several thousand feet, the instructor opens the parachute. The instructor deals with any emergencies. The dual control parachute lets the novice practice canopy control and the instructor controls the landing. The injury rate is about 1.54 injuries/1000jumps (about 1 injury per 650 jumps) and varies only little for men or women. The fatality rate is about 0.4 per 100,000 jumps. This is a great way to be introduced t
