Some people get a rush out of making prank calls to friends and neighbors… others need a lil’ more edge to satiate their hunger for life. But what happens when you get pushed over the edge and your thrill ride could turn into a possible death ride? Enter CT’s Survival Tip #569…

Just Do It!

Natural selection dictates that people either freeze up or act instinctively when their life is on the line. We’ll let you decide which action suits you best… Once you’ve come to your senses and realize your only hope of survival is quick and thoughtful action, you’re ready to get your Superman on and save a life.

Fun First

Enjoy yourself! You paid for this experience–no reason to let it go to waste because your parachute failed. It’s all a matter of distracting yourself from your fear. You might actually find the jump enjoyable if you forget the fact that you are plummeting to your death.

Think about Something Else

Get your mind off the danger and onto the beauty of the experience. Just enjoy the sensation of the clouds beneath your feet and the view of earth from this unique perspective. Rejoice in the thrill of the flight. Remember that you are practically conquering gravity. You are stepping on the edge of the cliff where the view is at its best; do you look at the beauty of the horizon or do you look down into the rocks below? Forget the rocks!

If All Else Fails…

Although rare, there are cases where people have survived a speed-fall! As the ground approaches, try to land using the five-point landing technique. Keeping your feet together and your arms at your side, fall sideways so that your feet, calf, thigh, butt and shoulders absorb the shock equally, thereby (hypothetically) minimizing the amount of damage done to your body.

The Cold, Hard Facts

In the U.S., about 35 of the 2 million jumps attempted each year end in death, most of which failings are due to judgment errors—not equipment errors. That equates to one fatality in every 71,000 jumps. Comparatively, one in 20,000 people die from a regular fall down a flight of stairs in a year.