Bungee Jumping Safety Tips

Find whether a Safety Club is certified : The first thing you should know about bungee jumping safety is that each organization or group that conducts bungee jumping is referred to as a ‘club’. It is important that you find out if the club you are jumping with is certified through some safety governing body.

There is an organization devoted strictly to the safety of bungee jumpers everywhere. This organization is known as BERSA, the British Elastic Rope Sports Association. BERSA has put together a code of practice in conjunction with the HSE, as a standard for safe operations when conducting bungee jumps. While member clubs and companies sign up voluntarily to follow the guidelines, there is no legal requirement for those who decide not to.

Bungee Jumping Safety Equipment : Another aspect of bungee jumping safety is the actual equipment used in bungee jumping. While there is a variety of methods and equipment that can be used, regular inspection is important.

It is highly recommended that each and every piece of equipment be triple checked after every single jump. After all, if one piece of equipment fails, it can cost someone their life. Most commercial operators do just that. Attachments at the platform are checked.

The bungee cord itself is checked for any damage. Each jump is logged, as each type of cord has a known life expectancy. The weight of each jumper is checked, and usually written on one hand of the jumper, so it can be double-checked as well. Every detail and element of physics must be correct before a person jumps off of the platform. Once you jump, there’s no coming back – there can be no mistakes.

There are a number of injuries that can be sustained during a bungee jump. From minor bruising, to broken bones, to death, all of them can be prevented with proper bungee jumping safety.

First Type : Everyone knows the first type of bungee jumping. This is the plain old bungee jump (if there ever was such a thing). Based on the natives from Pentecost Island in the South Pacific, this is where you jump off from a platform or other tall object.

Attached either through a let harness or body harness to a bungee cord or cords, you propel toward the earth. Once the cord(s) reach their maximum elasticity, you would rebound a few times. Typical jumpers experience about 2 to 4 rebounds, giving them the feeling of weightlessness.

The Catapult or Bungee Rocket

The second method of bungee jumping is called ‘the catapult‘, ‘reverse bungee‘, or ‘bungee rocket‘. In this version of the bungee jump, you start on the ground and propel upwards. You are actually attached to the ground using a variety of methods.

Once the bungee cord is stretched and ready, you are released. This has the effect of shooting the jumper upwards into the air. There is some danger in this method of jumping however. The bungee cord has a tendency to pull the jumper towards the object it is anchored to.

In the case of the ‘catapult’ jump, it is usually a lift crane. The danger is that you could hit the crane on the initial pull upwards. Of course, after the initial rocket upwards, the jump is much like the normal bungee jump.

Bungee Jumping Type 3 – Twin towers

The third method of bungee jumping is called the ‘twin towers‘. This type of bungee jump has solved the collision issue created with the ‘catapult’.

In this version of the bungee jump, there are two towers or cranes with bungee cords attached to the jumper. These are set some distance apart, with the jumper in the middle. This has the effect of shooting the jumper straight up, since they are pulling simultaneously. T

his eliminates the issue for potentially hitting the platform or crane. Some commercial outfits use a metal cage with this type of operation. However, this does require a bit more calculations, as the added weight of the cage will increase the need for more bungee cords.

Bungee Jumping Type 4- Bungee Run

The fourth method of bungee jumping is called the ‘bungee run‘. However, as the name implies, it really doesn’t involve any jumping at all. This type of bungee activity usually takes place down an inflatable runway. The object is for the runner to get as far as possible before the bungee cord pulls them back toward the anchor point. Competitions are actually held in this variation of the bungee sport.

Bungee Jump Type 5 – Bungee Trampoline

The fifth type of bungee jumping is called the ‘bungee trampoline’. This variation involves the use of a trampoline, in conjunction with poles and bungee cords. The jumper starts jumping on the trampoline, in a body harness, attached to bungee cords. The cords are attached to poles on the sides of the trampoline. As the jumper gets up higher and higher, the cords are tightened. Using this method, the jumper is able to go higher than they normally would with just the trampoline alone.

As you can see there are many types of bungee jumping in the modern bungee jumping movement. These are but a few of the more well-known examples. The future is sure to bring about even more variations of this extreme sport.