Extreme Sports - The Odds of Dying in a Bungee Jump Accident

An Introduction to Bungee Jumping

Bungee jumping is one of the most extreme sports that people take part in worldwide. The first attempt at this extreme sport was in 1979 when a 'dangerous sports' team from England devised the bungee device that is still in use today. The first bungee jump was made successfully from the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

In 1986 a man named A.J. Hackett did his first jump in New Zealand. He went on to jump off a number of important buildings including the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Not long after this, bungee jumping really came into its own as an extreme sport and is now a popular activity throughout the world for extreme sports lovers. But how safe really is it? And what are the odds of dying in a bungee jumping accident?

Bungee Cords

Due to the high risk element associated with the sport, chemists and physicists are constantly striving to make improvements in the make up of bungee cord. The bungee cord that is used today is predominantly made up of rubber and synthetic materials. When creating the equipment, the height and weight of different people are taken into account in order to ensure survival. Different cords are used for different weighted people to ensure maximum safety. It is up to scientists to make sure they use a medium between flexible and stiff in order to let the extreme sportsman enjoy the sport and keep him alive.

Safety

Before even thinking about doing a bungee jump 99.9% of people will want to be completely assured that they will be safe from harm. Statistics show that there is only a two in one million chance of dying from this sport, making it pretty safe especially when compared to other extreme sports like scuba diving and rock climbing. Adding to this, it may (or may not) be reassuring to know that almost all accidents that have happened have not occurred due to the actual bungee, but due to the operators not attaching the cord to the person or the building correctly. The producers of bungee cords are more than efficient at their job.

Perceptions

When compared to other sports it is not uncommon for many people to believe bungee jumping is more dangerous. Take sky diving for instance - due to the high numbers of 'ordinary' people that take part in this sport, many people believe it is relatively safe. It is a generally safe sport but when compared to bungee jumping the odds of dying are much higher. The same can be said for parachute jumping and scuba diving. If you've thought about doing a bungee jump, why not research it further? The odds of dying are very small!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5837127

7 Reasons Why Bungy Jumping Is The Best Adventure Sport

The thrill of outdoor adventure sports. Most of them death defying and bares an absolute image of risk in which people show much animosity. Despite the animosity, extreme adventure sports have been gaining much popularity all over the world. More and more people find themselves in these activities because of a most natural human trait - curiosity. Finding out why others can do it and you can't. Zoning in on the fears that you may have which prevent you from finding out what it is like to engage in such activities. What's good about adventure sports is that there is always a platform to start from and this start-off point is bungy jumping. The following 7 reasons make bungy jumping the best adventure sport for budding adrenaline junkies and absolute enthusiasts.

1. It's a great beginner sport for extreme aficionados. Very little training and know how is required. Neophytes to the sport need not purchase their own equipment, plus suitable locations are spread throughout the globe which makes it so easy to find.

2. It's safer than it looks. Jumping off a platform that is over 100 feet high with only an elastic cord attached to your ankles is not exactly a day to day routine and would certainly look very dangerous. Once you get to know the sport, you will realize the intense maintenance that bungy jumping equipment goes through. The training that the facilitators have and the extensive accreditation that has to be obtained before they can even talk about bungy. A bungy jump is mostly seen as a carefree act of liberating one's soul from deep seated fears, chronic stress or simply a crazy man's notion of fun. The nitty gritty procedure of ensuring a jumper's safety is often hidden behind people oscillating, jumper's screaming and rejoicing one jump after the other. If security of this activity is the question of the day, just come to think that bungy jumping has come a long, long way and all throughout its journey, safety has always been the priority.

3. One bungy so many ways. Bungy jumping has been on the market for such a long time that improvisations on the jump have been created to provide more chill and more thrill. To date variations range from the traditional ankle bungy jump to bungy trampolin and bungy rocket where the participant is catapulted up from the ground, and the twin towers.

4. A bungy for all occasions. This is a great adventure sport because you can urge your friends to share the experience with you. Desperate to have your best friend join you? Then you can give them an adventure similar to yours as a gift! Something that they cannot refuse and will be thanking you for, for the longest time.

5. Standalone or combine with other extreme sports, bungy jumping is sure to give you a fired up extreme atmosphere that will keep you buzzed for weeks!

6. The view to a thrill. Bungy jumping involves great heights which bring about two things, fear and a spectacular view of the surrounding area. One compliments another as some people use the spectacular sights as a means to pacify the fear of the drop.

7. A Repeat Performance. Unlike most of the extreme sports on the market, bungy jumping allows you to do one jump after the other. Some outfitters even have the option to hype up your game by upgrading a simple jump to a more complex and extreme one.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5098928