Hi,
The first thought that comes to my mind when I consider extreme sports is safety. If you are considering participating in any type of extreme sport, I want you to first reflect on and be aware of the tremendous importance of safety precautions that you must take in preparing yourself for involvement and participation. The word itself, “extreme” is a connotation of a word that represents danger and exemplifies the need for safety.

Webster’s Dictionary (2007) defines the word “extreme” as “very great or intense, severe, radical.” Needless to say, those of us here at www.safetyissues.com cannot emphasize enough the need for knowledge, preparation and level-headedness when it comes to extreme sports participation. The magnitude of danger is great. The stories of deaths, amputations and paralyzing results are numerous. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular extreme sports and allow me to offer you some tips in concern of your safety, should you choose to participate.
With its own Olympics of sorts–The X Games–without a doubt, extreme sports have reached the mainstream. With extreme sports centers and summer camps, many youths and adults alike are finding themselves drawn to the action. The most popular extreme sports are:
• BMX biking
• Skateboarding (Skitching)
• Snowboarding
• Rock Climbing
• Skydiving
• Street lugging
• Barefoot water-skiing
• Wakeboarding
As a whole, there are general rules for safety, when it comes to extreme sports participation. These include: wearing appropriate gear, having supervision and being in a safe locale. The most common injuries associated with extreme sports on an undivided basis of categories include: sprains, fractures, cuts, bruising and broken teeth. Keep in mind these are minor compared to some of the catastrophes that have occurred while individuals have been participating in extreme sports. Take into account:
• May 2, 2003: Alton Ralston was rock climbing and hiking in the Grand Junction, Colorado alone when a boulder fell and pinned his arm against the rock. After five days of being pinned, having no water or food, he realized his only hope for survival was to cut his arm off with his pocketknife, which he did. To this day, he remains an amputee.
• Feb. 2007: Jacen Abbott, 19, was “skitching” (holding on to the rear bumper of a vehicle while on his skateboard; with the vehicle moving) when he fell off his skateboard and was run over by the truck that was “pulling” him. He suffered permanent brain damage.
These two incidents represent a minimal amount of the number of tragic accidents that have occurred as a result of an individual participating in an extreme sport.
Other than the above, below are listed safety precautions that must be taken into account in order to assist in preventing either minor or major misfortunes from occurring as a result of extreme sports participation:
• Check and re-check your gear for wear and tear and durability.
• Check and familiarize yourself with the surface you are going to be competing or playing on.
• Wear padding, helmets and the appropriate clothing to the extreme sport you will be engaging in.
• Do not rush the learning curve! Know your limits and do not attempt to perform an act for which you do not have enough experience to do so.
• Wear proper footwear.
• Read and inform yourself of weather conditions that may affect your sport environment.
• Be in shape for your sport.
• Do not participate in your sport if you are physically tired and/or your emotions are not “in check.”
As always, turn to us for your safety related questions, comments and answers. We welcome and look forward to them.
Safe living,
Yovette Mumford