Bungee Jumping Safety Laws
Bungee jumping is a type of extreme activity, in which a person free falls from an elevated fixed position, while attached to a giant bungee cord. Extreme care needs to be taken when attempting a bungee jump. Many different types of serious injuries, including dislocations, and even death, are a possibility if certain precautions are not executed correctly. For this reason, most states now have regulated laws to place to help increase the safety of bungee jumping.
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State Uniformity
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State laws concerning bungee jumping are not all uniform. What is legal in one state, regarding bungee jumping, may be illegal in another. Check with your local state laws before bungee jumping.
Where to Bungee Jump From
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Most states have a fixed position law. This means that the bungee cord has to be attached to a stationary object that does not move. In some states however, it is legal to jump from a moving platform, such as a helicopter or a hot-air-balloon.
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What to Bungee Jump Over
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Bungee jumping is not 100 percent safe, meaning accidents can and do happen during a jump. For this reason, many states have regulated that only jumps made over an inflated air bag are legal. Bungee jumping creates a lot of downward momentum, if the cord were to break, a serious injury could occur, particularly if the jump is made over water or concrete. Even if it is not a law in your specific area, jumping over an inflated air bag is always a recommended safety precaution.
Equipment
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All states have regulations on the equipment used to bungee jump. However, states require that the bungee cord be attached to the harness of the jumper at their chest in place of at their ankles. Helmets are another piece of bungee jumping equipment that are always mandatory. The most important piece of equipment is the bungee cord itself. States have guidelines as to how old a bungee cord can be and how much weight can be supported by each cord. These are the questions that need to be asked to the bungee jumping company before attempting a jump.
BERSA License
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When bungee jumping, it is wise to use a company that is fully sanctioned from BERSA, The British Elastic Rope Association. It may even be illegal in your state to perform a bungee jump if the company does not have a BERSA operators license. Ask to see the companies license and their individual safety requirements before attempting a jump.
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References
- Photo Credit http://www.tomaski.net/wm.php?p=images&i=bungee-jumping-5.jpg
